South Africa has named their playing squad and backroom staff for July’s Student World Cup, to be held in Yorkshire as part of the rugby league Festival of World Cups in 2013.

It will be the first time they have entered since the inaugural student WC in New Zealand in 1986, the Kiwis the current holders.

Fanie Bredenhann, Director of Coaching for South African Rugby League, is optimistic. “The bulk of the team comes from Tuks, the University of Pretoria, and have been playing together for a while now,” he said.

“We have also included some very talented players from the Western Cape, Middelburg and Northwest Province, ensuring we have a strong squad of quality players.”

“Rugby league is still an amateur sport in South Africa, and players need to raise funds to play for their country. This has made selection and training camps difficult but the players are enthusiastic, the coaches are doing a great job and we are looking forward to a strong showing in the 2013 Student World Cup.”

TECHNICAL STAFF
Jeno van Biljon (Director: Students), Fanie Bredenhann (Director: Coaching), Jonothan Soares (Assistant Coach), Nicholas Espin (Assistant Coach), Deon Kraemer (Trainer), Riaan Coetzee (Physiotherapist), Frik van der Merwe (Team Manager)

TRAINING SQUAD
Allan Kasselman (TuksRL-UP), Andre Laoder (TuksRL-UP), Carel van Lill (TuksRL-UP), Chester Mbekela (TuksRL-UP), Christo Joubert (TuksRL-UP), Christo Louw (TuksRL-UP), Christo Nelson (Middelburg Tigers), Collins Mashilo (Potch NWU), Danie Strydom (Middelburg Tigers), Divan Lotz (Cape Buccaneers), Gerhard de wet (TuksRL-UP), Hans du Plessis (TuksRL-UP), Hein Olivier (TuksRL-UP), Hein Pretorius (TuksRL-UP), Ian van Deventer (TuksRL-UP), Jacques Hattingh (Middelburg Tigers), Jean Coetzer (TuksRL-UP), Jean-Di Oosthuizen (Middelburg Tigers), Jean-Pierre Nel (TuksRL-UP), Johan Harmse (TuksRL-UP), Keenan Frans (Cape Buccaneers), Martin Meyer (Middelburg Tigers), Manie Loots (TuksRL-UP), Marco Marais (Cape Buccaneers), Nardus Raubenheimer (TuksRLUP), Neels Venter (TuksRL-UP), Paaul van Jaarsveld (TuksRL-UP), Riaan Laidlaw (TuksRL-UP), Rudolf Prinsloo (Bears), Rupert Wells (TuksRL-UP), Ryan Espin (Cape Buccaneers), Shaune Bouwer (TuksRL-UP), Sihle Barnabas (Middelburg Tigers), Steynberg van Zyl (TuksRL-UP), Willem de Beer (Middelburg Tigers)