Springbok rugby fans might have been disappointed in not seeing Cheetahs pace man Raymond Rhule get a run on the recent Springbok tour to Ireland, Scotland and England, but they will still be able to him in action next month in George, when the inaugural NBM Premier 7sPL takes place at Outeniqua Park.
The tournament’s R1 million prize money certainly attracted the attention of the Toyota Cheetahs and they will travel to this exciting new concept in sevens rugby on 14 and 15 December with a team packed with talent and big names and Rhule could not be their big, but not only attacking weapon.
Tournament promoter Willem Strauss predicted as much when he saw the provisional Cheetahs line-up, who will also include the likes of Willie le Roux, Ryno Benjamin, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius and new recruit Johann Sadie.
“I saw Raymond in action as a schoolboy playing for HTS Louis Botha in our @lantic sevens series for schools and it was clear then that he would become a great player. I expect him to be a sensational Sevens player,” Strauss said.
“It is no secret that Willie le Roux is a great sevens player and I am very keen to see someone like Johann Sadie in this code. What is very pleasing is the fact that the teams are coming here to win the tournament and I expect a whole range of big names Super Rugby players playing in the tournament.”
The MTN Lions will also travel to George with a number of Super Rugby players. The likes of Derick Minnie, Andries Coetzee and Ruan Combrinck showed their class during the recent Super Rugby and Currie Cup season and now will have another platform to showcase their skills.
More big names will be populating the six privately owned teams, amongst them soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs.
The famous yellow and black kit will be a popular one and with former Springboks Breyton Paulse and Gcobani Bobo named as captain and coach respectively, there is great excitement about their participation. Their squad announcement will certainly create some interest, with names like Springbok flyer Jongi Nokwe and Kenyan ace Daniel Adongo been mooted.
The NBM All Stars team has already confirmed world stars like New Zealand ace, Zar Lawrence, IRB World record point’s holder and former England captain Ben Gollings as well as Samoan powerhouse Alafoti Fa’osiliva. Shane Williams is another expected to light up the Outeniqua Park sky.
Other confirmed teams, like the Vikings from Pretoria and the Living Ball team will have players like Fabian Juries, Stefan Basson, Brent Russell, Stefan Terblanche, Mzwandile Stick, Jonathan Mokuena and Marius Delport in their midst.
The Sharks, Blue Bulls, Western Province and Kaizer Chiefs are expected to name their teams later this week.
“This is going to be a fantastic mix of teams, styles, brands and sporting icons,” Strauss said.
“We are expecting great crowds and with rock star Nicolis Louw also part of the entertainment, fun will be had by everyone.”
The Lions team are as follows: Willie Brits, Ruan Combrinck, Derick Minnie, Claude Tshibidi, Andries Coetzee, Whestley Moolman, Morne Laubscher, Ruhan Nel, Jacques Nel, James Bester, Senzo Shabalala and Gideon Meiring.
The Cheetahs squad is: Ryno Benjamin, Robbie van Schalkwyk, Marnus Schoeman, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Leon Karemaker, Boom Prinsloo, Pieter van Zyl, Sarel Pretorius, Willie le Roux, Riaan Smit, Barry Geel, Cameron Jacobs, Raymond Rhule, Philip Burger, Kevin Luiters and Johann Sadie.
Tickets are available at Computicket branches nationwide.
For enquiries contact Willem Strauss 082-457-0190
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
POOL A POOL B POOL C POOL D
NBM All Stars Cheetahs Samurai Sharks
Vikings Mighty Mohicans Kaiser Chiefs Lions
Blue Bulls Boland Western Province Living Ball
DAY 1
OPENING CEREMONY: 10H15
Match KO Time Draw Fixture Duration Match KO Time Draw Duration
1 11:04 A1vB3 NBM All Stars vs Boland 22 Minutes
2 11:26 A2vB2 Vikings vs Mighty Mohicans 22 Minutes
3 11:48 A3vB1 Blue Bulls vs Cheetahs 22 Minutes
4 12:10 C1vD3 Samurai vs Living Ball 22 Minutes
5 12:32 C2vD2 Kaiser Chiefs vs Lions 22 Minutes
6 12:54 C3vD1 Western Province vs Sharks 22 Minutes
13:16 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
13:38 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
7 14:00 A1vB1 NBM All Stars vs Cheetahs 22 Minutes
8 14:22 A2vB3 Vikings vs Boland 22 Minutes
9 14:44 A3vB2 Blue Bulls vs Mighty Mohicans 22 Mins
10 15:06 C1vD1 Samurai vs Sharks 22 Minutes
11 15:28 C2vD3 Kaiser Chiefs vs Living Ball 22 Minutes
12 15:50 C3vD2 Western Province vs Lions 22 Minutes
16:12 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
16:34 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
16:56 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes 32
13 17:18 A1vB2 NBM All Stars vs Mighty Mohicans 22
14 17:40 A2vB1 Vikings vs Cheetahs 22 Minutes
15 18:02 A3vB3 Blue Bulls vs Boland 22 Minutes 16 18:24 C1vD2 Samurai vs Lions 22 Minutes
17 18:46 C2vD1 Kaiser Chiefs vs Sharks 22 Minutes
18 19:08 C3vD3 Western Province vs Living Ball 22 Min
19:30 END
DAY 2
19 11:04 ¼ Finals Cup 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool C 22 Minutes
20 11:26 ¼ Finals Cup 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool D 22 Minutes
21 11:48 ¼ Finals Cup 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool A 22 Minutes
22 12:10 ¼ Finals Cup 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool B 22 Minutes
23 12:32 SF Bowl 3rd Pool A v 3rd Pool C 22 Minutes
24 12:54 SF Bowl 3rd Pool D v 3rd Pool B 22 Minutes
13:16 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
13:38 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
25 14:00 SF Plate loser match 19 v loser match 20 22 Minutes
26 14:22 SF Plate Loser match 21 v loser match 22 22 Minutes
27 14:44 SF Cup Winner Match 19 v Winner Match 20 22 Minutes
28 15:06 SF Cup Winners Match 21 v Winner Match 22 22 Minutes
15:28 Break / Entertainment 22 Minutes
29 15:50 Bowl 3rd & 4th playoff loser match 23 v loser match 24 22 Minutes
30 16:12 Plate 3rd & 4th playoff loser match 25 v loser match 26 22 Minutes
31 16:34 Bowl Final Match Winner 23 v Winner Match 24 22 Minutes
32 16:56 Plate Final Match Winner 25 v Winner Match 26 22 Minutes
33 17:18 Cup 3rd&4th playoff loser Match 27 v loser match 28 22 Minutes
17:40 Million Rand Kicking Competition 22 minutes
34 18:02 Cup Final Winner Match 27 v Winner Match 28 30 minutes
18:30 Presentation
NBM7s PREMIER LEAGUE
RULES & REGULATIONS
• 7-a-side variations of the rules apply
• Teams consist of a 12 players per game (7 players & 5 reserves).
• Teams are divided into 4 pools of 3 teams.
• Teams play across pool in the pool games. Pool A vs Pool B and Pool C vs Pool D.
• Points are allocated for a win and draw in pool games. On conclusion of the pool games teams are ranked in their pools according to points. If points are equal after pool games the following format is used to decide the placing
– points difference, if still equal
– the team scoring the most points, if still equal
– if still equal then a kick off will take place between the teams on equal points. 3 different kickers are selected from each team and will drop kick from the 10m line in front of the posts. 3 kicks per team are taken and the team with the most successful kicks is the winner
– If still equal then another 3 different kickers per team are selected and again kick for posts from the 10m line. This is repeated until a winner is declared.
• Teams finishing 1st & 2nd in their pools proceed to the Cup Quarter Finals. Quarter Finals are across pool with Pool A vs Pool C and Pool B vs Pool D.
• Teams finishing 3rd in their pools will contest to the Bowl Semi Finals. Pool A vs Pool C and Pool B vs Pool D.
• Teams must be on time and ensure they know when they are playing their next game
• The toss takes place at half time of the preceding game at the referees tent
• Rolling substitutions are permitted only during stoppages in the game.
• Games are 7 minutes per side with a 2 minute half time break.
• Any minor injuries must be dealt with quickly and players moved out of the way of the game so that it can continue.
• Games will be started by the referees whistle.
• Any player receiving a yellow card must leave the playing field for a period of two minutes.
• Any player receiving a red card is suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
• In the quarter finals, semifinals and finals, if the score is level after normal time then 3 minutes extra time is played. The first team to score any points is then declared the winner (sudden death). If after extra time the teams are still level then the team that scored the first try in the particular game is declared the winner. If the score was 0 – 0 after normal time then a kick off will take place;
– kick off will take place between the teams. 3 different kickers are selected from each team and will drop kick from the 10m line in front of the posts. 3 kicks per team are taken and the team with the most successful kicks is the winner
– If still equal then another 3 different kickers per team are selected and again kick for posts from the 10m line. This is repeated until there is a winner.
• Only the Cup Final is 10 minutes each way. ALL other finals are 7 minutes each way.