Fresh off their back-to-back win of the Carling Currie Cup, the Suzuki Griquas are shifting their gaze to uncharted territory. The men from the Northern Cape are packing their bags for a groundbreaking first overseas tour to compete in the inaugural Tbilisi Cup in Georgia.
However, when the squad boards the flight to Europe, they will do so without a significant portion of the powerhouse machinery that secured their domestic dominance.
The elite tier of South African and European rugby has come knocking on Kimberley’s door. Powerful outside centre Zane Bester is heading north for an exciting overseas adventure, linking up with Italian outfit Zebre Parma on an eight-month loan deal.
Closer to home, the Golden Lions have bolstered their URC hooker stocks by snapping up Tiaan Lange on a loan agreement, while dynamic prop Eddie Davids makes a permanent return to Johannesburg.
Pretoria’s Vodacom Bulls have raided the champions for serious firepower, securing the permanent signature of lethal winger Dylan Maart, alongside a loan deal for impactful hooker Janco Uys. Meanwhile, hard-working eighth man Carl Els will be staying in central South Africa, making a permanent switch down the N8 to join rivals, the Toyota Cheetahs.
Crucially, veteran general and point-machine George Whitehead, who recently celebrated a monumental 150th cap for the union, is also a notable omission from the touring party. The coaching staff has opted to rest a handful of battle-hardened veterans to manage workloads and aggressively blood the next generation of leadership.
The departures leave massive shoes to fill, but they simultaneously unlock structural opportunities for an exciting crop of rising stars. The official 31-man touring squad has been confirmed, showcasing a vibrant blend of championship continuity and fresh ambition.
Up front, the responsibility of anchoring the scrum falls to seasoned campaigners like Leon Lyons, Johan Louw, and Ntobeko Shezi, alongside a robust lock pairing options in Derik Pretorius and Lungi Mbiko.
In the backline, the spotlight falls squarely on the playmakers. With Whitehead resting, young guns Liam Koen and Danrich Visagie are handed the keys to the kingdom at flyhalf. They will be serviced by an identical trio of crisp scrumhalves in Caleb Abrahams, Bobby Alexander, and Jack Hart. Out wide, the explosive Sako Makata and the retaining Connor Mahoney will provide the necessary teeth to test European structures.
The new-look Suzuki Griquas kick off their historic international campaign on Thursday, 24 September, against Georgia’s formidable Black Lion at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi. Kickoff is scheduled for 18:00 SAST.
Suzuki Griquas Touring Squad:
Forwards: Leon Lyons, Corne Lavagna, Mhleli Khutzwayo, Janus Venter, Willem van de Heever, Ntobeko Shezi, Ebune Ngundue, Johan Louw, Derik Pretorius, Lungi Mbiko, Albert Liebenberg, Ntsiki Fisanti, Lourens Oosthuizen, Carel van der Merwe, Marco de Witt, Phumzile Maqondwana, Dillow Smith.
Backs: Caleb Abrahams, Bobby Alexander, Jack Hart, Liam Koen, Danrich Visagie, Sako Makata, JC Mars, Connor Mahoney, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Damian Markus, Tom Nel, Luke Burger, Stefan Coetzee.