Blue Bulls clubs to face international opposition

Blue Bulls Rugby Union clubs Naka Bulle, Northam Rhinos and a Loftus 200 team will test their mettle against international opposition when Israeli side, Tel Aviv Heat, tour South Africa in March.

Willem Strauss, president of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, said in a statement that it will be a great opportunity to reward the best semi-professional players in the union's club structures.

"Club rugby is a priority of our administration and in which all of our stakeholders, shareholders, Jake White, Edgar Rathbone, and sponsors, etc. has bought into," said Strauss. 

Tel Aviv Heat compete in the Europe Super Cup Competition and have a number of South Africans such as Josh Strauss and Nic Groom, among others, on their books. They are also coached by Kevin Musikanth, who led the UCT Ikey-Tigers to the Varsity Cup title in 2014.

"It's truly fantastic to be able to be invited by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union to tour and give our talented squad exposure in one of the strongest rugby regions globally. This will be an amazing momentum-builder for our new franchise as we prepare for the upcoming Rugby Europe Super Cup season," Musikanth said. 

"We cannot wait to play against top clubs and, of course, the opportunity to play against the Loftus 200 team as a tour finale. We are very grateful for this opportunity from the Blue Bulls Rugby Union."

19 March v Northam Rhinos at Northam

23 March v Naka Bulle at Naka Bulle

26 March v Loftus 200 at Loftus Versfeld

The teams will contest the Robert Denton Cup in honour of the late Blue Bulls Rugby Union administrator, who recently died.

The coaching staff for the Loftus 200 team consists of Morne Human (head coach of Naka Bulle), Flip de Kock (Northam Rhinos) and Danie "Tokkelos" Coetzee (former Bulls and