SA Super 14 squads revealed

Johannesburg - SA Rugby has confirmed the official Super 14 squads for the 2009 season. The Sanzar competition starts next Friday evening when the Highlanders entertain the Brumbies at Dunedin, followed by the Western Force versus Blues clash in Perth.

In South Africa, the Lions host the Cheetahs on the same day (19:10) at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.

Andy Marinos, the SA Rugby acting MD, said he was excited by the quality of players in each of the franchise squads: "All the squads have some promising and exciting youngsters, while there is also a welcome return to Super rugby action for a number of very experienced players who for various reasons did not feature in the 2007 competition.

"The squads are all very balanced and we are looking forward to another exciting Super 14 competition," said Marinos.

Springbok captain John Smit and fellow World Cup winner Victor Matfield are amongst the most noticeable players who have returned to their franchises to play in the Super 14 competition. Smit is back in the colours of the Sharks while Matfield will lead the charge again for the Bulls.

Both players returned to South Africa last year after a brief spell of club rugby in France.

According to Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, this year's Super 14 takes on added importance because of the eagerly awaited visit to South Africa by the British and Irish Lions.

"The national selectors and I will therefore be keeping a close watch on the performances of our teams and, in particular, those of the individual players who will form the nucleus of our squad to face the Lions. As usual, we expect the competition to provide a platform for players on the fringes of Springbok selection to stake their claims.

"This is an exceptional year for our rugby and we hope to match it with exceptional on-field performances. A tough four months lies ahead and I would like to wish the five SA teams a successful and rewarding Super 14.

Some players were not registered on account of injury, rehabilitation or conditioning. However, they can be registered (if so chosen by their franchises) on return to full fitness.

These players are:

Cheetahs:

JW Jonker, Coenie Oosthuizen, Wilton Pietersen

Lions:

Ross Geldenhuys, Ernest Joubert, Jannes Labuschagne, Derick Minnie, Gerhard Mostert, Andries Pretorius, Ethienne Reynecke, Jody Rose, Dewald Senekal, Justin St Jerry, Louis Strydom, Johan van Deventer, Walter Venter, Justin Wheeler

Sharks:

Pat Cilliers, Waylon Murray, Ulrich Potgieter, Albert van den Berg

Stormers

Willem de Waal, Brok Harris

The announced squads are:

Bulls:
Heini Adams, Bakkies Botha, Jacques Burger, Marius Delport, Fourie du Preez, Jaco Engels, Burton Francis, Rayno Gerber, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard,  Wayne Julies, Zane Kirchner, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuün, Bandise Maku,  Tiger Mangweni, Victor Matfield, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Dewald Potgieter, Jaco Pretorius, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Gürthro Steenkamp, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Deon Stegmann, Morné Steyn,  Pedrie Wannenburg.

Lions:
Cobus Grobbelaar, Doppies la Grange, Jano Vermaak, Louis Ludik, Heinke van der Merwe, Jaque Fourie, Franco van der Merwe, Earl Rose, Anton van Zyl, Willie Wepener, Jannie Boshoff, Willem Alberts, JC Janse van Rensburg, Gert Muller, Henno Mentz, Ashwin Willemse, Michael Killian, Jannes Labuschagne, Chris Jonck, Hans van Dyk, Shandre Frolick, Todd Clever, Siegelaar  Allister, Lawrence Sephaka, Dusty Noble,  Thiliphaut Marole,  Ligtoring Landman, Okkie Kruger, Divan Kotze, Barry Goodes.

Cheetahs:
Hennie Daniller, Danwel Demas, Corné Uys, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Fabian Juries, Meyer Bosman, Tewis de Bruyn, Frans Viljoen, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brüssow, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, Kobus Calldo, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez, Richardt Strauss,  Wayne van Heerden, Hendro Scholtz, Sarel Pretorius, Bjorn Basson, Kabamba Floors, Trompie Nontshinga, Piet van Zyl, Riaan Viljoen, Jean Botha, Flip van Der Merwe, Bees Roux, Jonge Nokwe, Bevin Fortuin, Hanno Coetzee.

Sharks:
Skipper Badenhorst, Nikolai Blignaut, Jacques Botes, Deon Carstens, Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira, Johann Muller, Skholiwe Ndlovu, John Smit, Steven Sykes, Albert van den Berg, Monty Dumond, Adrian Jacobs, Chris Jordaan, Rory Kockott, Waylon Murray, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn,  Riaan Swanepoel, Stefan Terblanche, Ross Cronje, Justin Downey, Luzuko Vulindlu.

Stormers:
Andries Bekker, Wikus Blaauw, Gcobani Bobo, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Dylan des Fountain, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Schalk Ferreira, Adriaan Fondse, Deon Fourie, Peter Grant, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie, Francois Louw, JD Moller, Brian Mujati, Pieter Myburgh, Sireli Naqelevuki, Morgan Newman, Luke Watson, Percy Montgomery, Nick Koster, JC Kritzinger, Hilton Lobberts, Joe Pietersen, AJ Venter, Duanne Vermeulen.