With the Vodacom United Rugby Championship taking a two-week break, the Currie Cup provides a stage for budding stars to hog the spotlight. Here are five players to watch!
Kade Wolhuter (Western Province)
Part of a line of prodigious playmakers in the Western Province setup, Wolhuter will likely be given the No 10 jersey when the Cape side opens their campaign against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Tipped as a bright prospect since his days at Paul Roos in Stellenbosch, he made his DHL Stormers debut at just 19 only for a serious knee injury to interrupt his progress and rule him out of rugby for the better part of a year.
Since returning to action, Wolhuter has picked up some Vodacom URC experience along the way and can now focus on getting some consistent game time under his belt and showing what he is capable of.
Mpilo Gumede (Sharks)
Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, Gumede made his senior debut for the Sharks in 2020, just two years after graduating from Durban High School, where he captained the 1st XV.
A hard-nosed defender, powerful ball carrier and equally expert poacher, the 22-year-old is comfortable across the back row and gave a strong account of himself in last year’s Currie Cup.
With the stocks of loose forwards at the Sharks packed, Gumede can show his worth with another strong season in the Currie Cup.
If knocking on the door doesn’t work, Mpilo Gumede is more than happy smashing the door down ?#CarlingCurrieCup #ReachForGold #TheChampionWithin @blacklabelsa pic.twitter.com/VqGBFYUIiS
— The Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) February 9, 2022
JC Pretorius (Lions)
South Africa’s 2022 Sevens Player of the Year completed a move to the Lions at the end of last year. Pretorius made his debut in the Challenge Cup match against Stade Francais in Paris, but has not been involved in a Lions team since.
The 24-year-old has been compared to fellow sevens-to-fifteens convert Kwagga Smith and, much like the Springbok flank, brings boundless energy to the back row.
With the Lions preferring bulkier flanks such as Ruan Venter and Emmanuel Tshituka in their URC side, the Currie Cup will give Pretorius the opportunity to make a case for his inclusion as a more fleet-of-foot option.
Stedman Gans (Bulls)
Continuing the theme of sevens converts, there was plenty of hype around Stedman Gans when he returned to the Vodacom Bulls from the Blitzboks in 2020.
The streetsmart midfielder shone in Jake White’s side that claimed back-to-back Currie Cup titles in 2021. However, the additions of David Kriel from Western Province and Wandisile Simelane from the Lions have made regular game time in the URC tough for the 25-year-old.
As the Bulls have hit a speed wobble in the URC, there is a chance for Gans to prove why he could be the answer to the Pretoria side’s backline conundrum.
Lubabalo Dobela (Griquas)
Among the more exciting new signings at the minnow unions, flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela is back in the fifteens game after a short stint with the Blitzboks.
The 24-year-old was part of a talented 2018 Junior Springbok side that included Wandisile Simelane, Tyrone Green, Zak Burger, Salmaan Moerat and Ruan Nortje. However, a combination of injuries and a lack of opportunities have since stunted his progress. In an attempt to kickstart his career, Dobela joined the Sevens Academy in 2020 and was named to make his Blitzboks debut in last year’s Singapore Sevens. However, the injury curse struck again as he picked up a knock in his first tournament.
Now at the Griquas, the playmaker will look to steer the Peacock Blues one step further after the Kimberley side suffered disappointment in the 2022 final.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images