Photo Credit: Gallo Images
Coach Mziwakhe Nkosi will lead the Lions team for the preparation matches and will be assisted by Wessel Roux. Ivan van Rooyen will oversee proceedings as Head Coach of the Lions Rugby Company.
Nkosi is a former SA Schools coach and a man who operated in that set-up for four-and-a-half years coming through the Lions Rugby systems. He steered the Xerox Lions Under 21 side to the final of the national tournament in 2020 and has been an integral part of the Lions’ junior rugby structures for quite some time.
The team to play the NNC Pumas this Friday will be captained by lock Reinhard Nothnagel. The Lions team taking part in the preparation matches will vary from week to week in an effort to give young players opportunity and create excitement as well as preparing for the North.
Lions vs NNC Pumas: EW Viljoen; Prince Nkabinde, Manuel Rass, James Mollentze, Divan Rossouw; Tiaan Swanepoel, Morné van den Berg; Francke Horn, Roelof Smit, Marnus Schoeman, Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), Emmanuel Tshituka, Wiehahn Herbst, PJ Botha, Nathan McBeth. Reserves: Dameon Venter, Banele Mthenjane, Jannie du Plessis, Ruhan Straeuli, MJ Pelser, Dillon Smit, Luke Rossouw, Ngia Selengbe, Ruan Dreyer, Izan Esterhuizen, Sibusiso Sangweni.