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Stormers bolster lock stocks

Cape Town - Chris van Zyl, brother of the former Western Province and Lions lock Anton, will play for the Stormers in a pre-season friendly against the Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town stadium on Saturday.

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth and Argentina lock Manuel Carizza were both injured in last week’s friendly against the Cheetahs at Newlands.

And with Gerbrandt Grobler also not available due to testing positive for a banned substance, there is an obvious lack of depth in the lock position in WP Rugby.

The Stormers’ strategic communications officer, Howard Kahn, on Thursday confirmed that Van Zyl has joined Western Province and will be in the starting line-up against Boland on Saturday.

Van Zyl played some Varsity Cup rugby, representing Maties in the 2011 Varsity Cup competition and making three appearances. He then moved to Johannesburg, where he played amateur rugby for Pirates, also captaining the side.

The formers Rondebosch Boys’ pupil joined the Golden Lions senior side in 2013. He made his first class debut in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, in a 27-22 defeat to the Falcons in Kempton Park, a match where he was also named captain of the side. He made a further two appearances in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition.

The 28-year-old made his Currie Cup debut in the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division match against the Sharks in Durban. Van Zyl is a versatile player who can also play at No 8.

Stormers team:

15. EW Viljoen, 14. Tshotsho Mbovane, 13. Jarryd Sage, 12. Kyle Lombard, 11. Danwel Demas, 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Godlen Masimla, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7. Luke van der Smit 6. Michael Willemse, 5. Chris van Zyl, 4. David Ribbans, 3. Frans van Wyk, 2. Neil Rautenbach (captain), 1. Oli Kebble

Substitutes: 16. Liam Hendricks, 17. Deacon Chowlse, 18. Burger van Niekerk, 19. Johan Momsen, 20. Luke Stringer, 21. Justin Phillips, 22. SP Ferreira, 23. Ryno Eksteen, 24. Mathew Turner, 25. Shuiab Samaai

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