Things are looking up for Rhinos
More players needed to fill four teams
Preparations for the upcoming rugby season are underway at the Thanda ZRA Empangeni Rugby Club. But coach Kokkie Crous has said, ‘I’m not very happy at the moment, after watching the performances at the recently concluded trials at Mick Kelly Park’. ‘Even though well over 50 players pitched up to the trials, we are short of numbers and definitely much more than this if we hope to set ourselves up for a good season. ‘There has to be a vast improvement over the next few weeks if we hope to be successful in getting four teams on to the field this coming season.’ As far as Rhinos are concerned, the quality is there. Sphephelo Mayaba will be returning and should join Jaco Holtzhauzen in the front row. Chris Kemp, an ex-Bulls U20 and Vodacom Cup hooker, is on his way down to Empangeni and should complete a strong front row.New Zealand
Lee Thompson is here and will probably pack down with Dewald van Deventer or Clinton Dyer, as lock or eighth man who comes from New Zealand.
Kevin Smith, capable of playing Moor Cup rugby, is the fourth lock at the club.
JC Claasens is another who is returning, but only in May.
Warren Graff, Welcome Nomzanga, Clintoen Koen and New Zealander Dyer complete the loose trio, capable of holding their own in the Moor Cup competition.
There are also a couple of front rows from Johannesburg University, as well as Pierre Crous, who wants to play, but will start later.
His brother Ryno is not available as he still has a couple of injuries to sort out.
Shaun Kommer is another who is making a real effort this season and could go places.
Scrumhalf
All of a sudden, the Empangeni club has a wealth of talent at scrumhalf, with Lesley-Dean Luiters, Dirkie de Waal, Noland van Staaden and Michael Nation all queuing up to take on the position at the base of the scrum.
This is good news as this position has always caused a few problems in past seasons.
Donovan Barnard makes a welcome return and can slot in anywhere in the backline.
Both the Mdluli twins - Thulani and Tokozane - are there as well as Jaco Dannhauser, who could fill that vital position at fullback.
Chris Nel, an important cog in the backline, capable of playing at fullback or flyhalf, is also back.
Unfortunately, Senzo Sibiya, Prince Mofokeng, Richard Aingworth and Menzies Ngidi have all moved to Durban.
Frans Laatz and Victor Campher, together with quite a few of the last year’s academy boys, who are all capable of slotting into the backline, should help complete a reasonable Empangeni first team, capable of giving a good account of themselves.
But now it’s up to the players and the coaching staff to get their house in order and set themselves up for a really good season in 2010.
