Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has named a larger training group ahead of next year’s Super Rugby competition.
According to reports, there are nine new recruits and two Under 21 players in the squad.
Wing Sergeal Petersen, utility back Joe Pietersen, No 8 Willie Britz, centre JW Jonker, prop BG Uys, flank Devin Oosthuizen, utility back Coenie van Wyk, prop Danie Mienie and flyhalf Clinton Swart are the newcomers in the 55-man squad.
Youngsters Nico Lee (centre) and Tienie Burger (flank) were also added as newcomers.
Sport24
The squad will convene on 10 November and train until 12 December, before re-convening on 5 January ahead of next year’s Super Rugby competition.
Aside from the above-mentioned newcomers, three players only joined the Cheetahs before this year’s Currie Cup competition and are yet to play Super Rugby for the franchise. They are centre JP du Plessis, fullback Clayton Blommetjies and flyhalf Willie du Plessis.
Centre Johann Sadie and flank Heinrich Brussow will only join at the start of 2015 because they are currently playing club rugby in Japan for the Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Drotske will take charge of the Super Rugby side after Rory Duncan coached the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup while Drotske was away in Europe to learn new coaching methods.
Cheetahs’ larger Super Rugby training squad:
Forwards:
Willie Britz, Jean Cook, Carel Greeff, Nicky Steyn, Oupa Mohoje, Devin Oosthuizen, Tienie Burger, Armandt Koster, Heinrich Brussow, Boom Prinsloo, Francois Uys, Carl Wegner, Jaco Nepgen, Freddie Ngoza, Lood de Jager, Jonathan Adendorf, Maks van Dyk, Luan de Bruin, Rudolph Botha, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Heinrich Roelfse, Martin Bezuidenhout, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Ryno Barnes, Elandre Huggett, Coenie Oosthuizen, Caylib Oosthuizen, BG Uys, Danie Mienie
Backs:
Willie le Roux, Coenie van Wyk, Clayton Blommetjies, Gouws Prinsloo, Aubrey McDonald, Johann Sadie, JP du Plessis, Nico Lee, JW Jonker, Vuyo Mboto, Joubert Engelbrecht, Francois Venter, Jonathan Francke, Rayno Benjamin, Raymond Rhule, Cornal Hendricks, Sergeal Petersen, Ederies Arendse, Danie Dames, Joe Pietersen, Francois Brummer, Willie du Plessis, Clinton Swart, Sarel Pretorius, Shaun Venter, Tian Meyer
Injured:
Boela Serfontein, Hilton Lobberts, Elgar Watts, PJ Vermeulen.