South African Rugby League

Date: 15/5/13

South African Rugby League is pleased to announce the team to travel to Leeds in the United Kingdom to compete in the 8th RLIF Student World Cup. A series of training camps and trails were held with players from all the regions over the past three months and the training squad reduced from 35 players to a squad of 24 players.

The team will depart on the 1st of July for England to compete in 3 group matches before the semifinals and finals at Headingly Stadium in Leeds.

“We are sending a strong, fit and skilled team to compete in Leeds,” says Fanie Bredenhann, SARL Student Coach. “The team have been training hard and are eager to show the rest of the world the level of rugby league South Africa can play.” Kobus Botha, President of SARL, was full of praise for the team, saying: ”These players, along with the technical staff, have sacrificed their weekends and at personal expense made sure they attend every training camp.

Because SASCOC is still steadfastly refusing to acknowledge rugby league as a sport, it is difficult to get funding from corporates and sponsors so the players and staff need to carry these costs themselves. This shows a level of commitment and passion that is worthy of praise.”

2013 South African Student RLWC Staff
The Technical Staff compromises the following people:
Fanie Bredenhann (Student Coach), Jonothan Soares (Assistant Coach), Nicholas Espin (Assistant Coach), Deon Kraemer (Trainer), Christien van der Merwe (Physiotherapist), Frik van der Merwe (Team Manager), Chris Botes (Operations and Media Manager)

2013 South African RLWC student team

2013 South African Student RLWC Squad
Allan Kasselman, Andre Loader, Carel van Lill, Chester Mbekela, Christo Joubert, Christo Louw, Gerhard de Wet, Hans du Plessis, Hein Olivier, Hein Pretorius, Ian van Deventer, Jean Coetzer, Jean-Di Oosthuizen, Jean-Pierre Nel, Johan Harmse, Manie Loots, Marco Marais, Nardus Raubenheimer, Neels Venter, Paul van Jaarsveld, Riaan Laidlaw, Rudolf Prinsloo, Rupert Wells, Shaune Bouwer

Student 2013 RLWC Competing Nations
Group one consists of England, Ireland, South Africa and Wales. Group two consists of Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and Russia. The format will see the two top teams in each group face each other in the semi-finals before the finals at Headingly Stadium in Leeds on the 14th of July 2013.

Student 2013 RLWC Venues and Dates
Group stage matches at stadia in West Yorkshire from the 3rd of July 2013 with Finals Day at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on 14 July 2013.

Student RLWC past winners
New Zealand (1986), Australia (1989), Australia (1992), Australia (1996), New Zealand (1999), New Zealand (2005), New Zealand (2008)