Tuks start Club Champs planning

FNB Tuks have named a training squad of 34 players for the 2010 SAA National Club Championships.

The first training session is on Monday, August 30 at the TuksRugby Stadium.

Tuks will represent the Blue Bulls at the tournament, which takes place in Stellenbosch from September 18 to 25. Tuks, of course, won this right after overwhelming Police in the Carlton Cup Final (49-23).

Coach Nollis Marais said the squad would be cut to approximately 25 players by the end of the first two weeks of preparation.

Tuks will play two warm-up matches - the first against a Blue Bulls XV on Friday, September 3.

The Tuks squad:

Forwards (18): Marius Weber, Jacques Verwey, Louis van Biljon, Franco Mostert, Peet Botma, Joe Walters, Frik Kirsten, Henri Bantjes, Corné Fourie, Chris Crous, Ettienne Breytenbach, Gert Andries van der Merwe, Bêrend Botha, Mattheus du Plooy, Henry Coleman, Coenraad Pieterse, Francois van Wyk, Hein Viljoen, Brendon Thsosane.

Backs (16): Shaun Davids, GD Kotzee, Gerhard van der Merwe, Gerrit Smith, John-Wessel Bell, Renier Wiessener, Hendrik Blignaut, Etienne Greeff, Ruan van Rooyen, Andries Coetzee, Tertius Harmse, Marno Kotzee, Dirk Dippenaar, Devan Kruger, Stanley Twiname, Johan Booysen.

By Morris Gilbert