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Johannesburg - The Lions' No 8 Willem Alberts has been selected in the pre-season squad announced by the Sharks for the tri-series in Cape Town.
The contentious selection will not be tolerated by the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU), who maintain they have a binding contract with Alberts and point out that he has not been "signed off" to play for the Sharks.
"We will definitely lay a charge if Alberts plays," Lions CEO Manie Reyneka said before the squad announcement by Sharks coach John Plumtree.
Springbok utility back Ruan Pienaar was not considered as he is undergoing rehabilitation.
The Stormers played Australian franchise the Western Force on Saturday night in the tri-series opening match . The Sharks will take on the Force next Tuesday and the pre-season friendlies wrap up with the Stormers hosting the Sharks next Friday evening.
"Obviously the contact side of it is important for us, as well as the new rules - the laws that the referees are looking at: tightening up on the breakdown and the scrummaging.
"It will be good for us to get used to those areas," Plumtree said on the Sharks website of what he would like to get out of the two matches.
The squad which includes 12 Springboks:
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Jacques Botes, Craig Burden, Patric Cilliers, Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Gerhard Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Johann Muller, John Smit and Steven Sykes.
Backs: Monty Dumond, Adrian Jacobs, Rory Kockott, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Waylon Murray, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Andries Strauss, Riaan Swanepoel, Stefan Terblanche and Luzuko Vulindlu.
Fixtures:
Jan 23: 5pm Stormers v Western Force (Stormers won 54 - 12)
Jan 26: 7pm The Sharks v Western Force
Jan 29: 7pm Stormers v The Sharks
