Local URC franchises get timely Bok boost

With the international season now a thing of the past, South African rugby fans will turn their attention to their local franchises competing in the United Rugby Championship (URC), which is in full swing over the festive season. 

Those franchises will all be back to full strength as the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse and other national players return.

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The Sharks and Stormers, in particular, will welcome back nine and 10 players, respectively, in what will be a timely boost, particularly for the Durban-based franchise fresh off a 35-0 drubbing at the hands of Cardiff.

That led to the end of Sean Everitt's spell as head coach after he stepped down on Monday, with director of rugby Neil Powell now in charge of the side for the rest of the URC campaign. They take on the Ospreys in Durban on Friday. 

The Bulls welcome back five players from the national setup as they prepare to face Cardiff on Saturday, while the Stormers are up against the Dragons, also on Saturday.

The Lions, who don't have any returning Springboks, face Scarlets on Sunday. 

Stormers  

Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Marvin Orie, Salmaan Moerat, Deon Fourie, Evan Roos 

Bulls 

Kurt-Lee Arendse, Johan Goosen, Canan Moodie, Sbu Nkosi, Marco van Staden 

Sharks 

Makazole Mapimpi, Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi