Sables to replace Poorte first team in Assupol Series

The Sables (known as the Roodepoort Rugby Club second team) must do the club, town and first team proud in this year’s Assupol Super Club Series.

Considering that the club’s first team will focus on the Cell C Community Cup – played at the same time as the Assupol Series – the club confirmed that the Sables will represent the first team.

Faris Sader in charge of club matters explained that, “The first team’s focus obviously is on the Community Cup. The squad of players selected for this tournament cannot play in the Assupol Series as there is the risk of injury. It will be suicide to play our first-choice players. We therefore decided that the Sables will feature and not the first team. We know they can do us proud.”

The Sables will start their campaign only in the second week at home against Kempton Wolwe (Saturday 8 March) followed by another home game against Rustenburg Impala (Saturday 15 March).

Their last fixture in the group is against archrivals Brakpan – the team they have been struggling to beat on the scoreboard for two years – whom they face away from home on Saturday 22 March.

Both Brakpan and Impala possibly could be without their first-choice players as well, considering that they too participate in this year’s Community Cup. Kempton Wolwe does not compete in the Community Cup.

“We, Impala and Brakpan are all in the same boat,” Faris told the Record.

“Their first-choice players probably also will not feature as the Community Cup is the one to win. It will come down to which of the three clubs has the most depth.”

Faris added that the Sables stand a good chance to do well in the Assupol Series, considering they had an exceptional 2013 season. They finished second in the Pirates Grand Challenge and reached the semi-finals of the Predator League.

The Sables team will be coached by Vic Volschenk, Corne Jansen van Vuuren and Jannie Pretorius (team manager), the same coaches who have been coaching them for the past few years.