Springbok loose forward Arno Botha will lead the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division, the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd announced on Monday.
Botha, who have two test caps to his credit, brings a wealth of talent to the team and is expected to lead by example and from the front. The Vodacom Blue Bulls start their Currie Cup campaign against DHL Western Province on Friday in Pretoria.
Botha has proven leadership, having lead the Junior Springboks to the Junior World Championship a couple of years back and fulfil one of the core leadership roles in the current Vodacom Bulls structure, where he played 46 times in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition.
He has played in 24 Currie Cup matches for the team since his debut against the Steval Pumas in 2011.
Botha will alternate with Nic de Jager and when he is off the field, Hanro Liebenberg, himself a former Junior Springbok captain, will take over the captaincy reigns, Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais confirmed.
"We are very fortunate to have a strong leadership core. Arno does have the edge when it comes to experience and he is very well respected amongst the squad. It is also very important for me to have my captain as a starting certainty, so Arno ticks all the boxes.
He is one of the best in the country and I can expecting good things from the team with him in charge," Marais said.
Botha said it is a big honour. "I grew up being a Blue Bulls fan and always admired the quality of leadership in this team. I have also played with some great captains, so hope to bring justice to the position. If you lead from the front, half of the challenge is done, so I am keen to see how this added responsibility improves my game," Botha said.
Coaching staff confirmed
The Blue Bulls Company meanwhile also confirmed their coaching staff for the remainder of the season. A number of new signings were also announced.
Nollis Marais is again in charge of the Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup team. His forwards coach is Anton Leonard and backline coach is David Manuel. John-William Meyer will act as technical and kicking coach and Shaun du Toit and Henri-Charl Terblanche take care of strength and conditioning.
For the Under-21 team Pote Human will be Head Coach. His assistants are Bevin Fortuin (backs), Denzil Frans (forwards), Vainon Willis (technical) and Ghafoer Luckan (strength and conditioning).
The Under-19s will be coached by Jaco Pienaar, with Dewey Swartbooi (backs), Curtley Prins (technical) and Mark Nicholls (strength and conditioning) the remaining staff.
Pine Pienaar is defence coach for the senior side, Gary Botha scrum and breakdown coach for all teams and Jacus Coetzee in charge of rehabilitation. Hayden Groepes was named assistant coach for the backs for the Currie Cup and u.21 teams, while Hendré Marnitz has been confirmed kicking and skills coach for the junior teams.
New signings
The BBC also announced the signings of Conraad van Vuuren, John Roy Jenkinson and the extension of contract to Tony Jantjies.
Van Vuuren, currently playing for the Toyota Free State will join in 1 November on a two year deal and Jenkinson, formerly Pukke and Leopards and currently Maties and WP prop, will join for two years from 1 August.
Jantjies has agreed to a contract extension till 31 October 2017.
Sp
dries
dan
burger
ulengo
libbok
Arno Botha is volgens my ook die regte ou vir die kapteinskap. Hy is verseker n baie goeie speler en van die bestes gaan nie in die Bok groep wees nie. Elke Springbok afrigter het sy eie keuses en dan speel kwotas ook nog n rol.
Wat van Derick Hougaardt.
Geniet julle laaste week van "Ons is die enigste SA span wat SR al gewen het". Na saterdag is dit verby.
GO LIONS - Super Rugby Champs 2016
Die hele SA staan agter julle - Behalwe die Blou Bulle en hulle ondersteuners.
Sterkte aan die Lions.
Die Lions is besig om vir die res van SA se afrigters te wys hoe agter die klip die afrigters in SA is en hoe hulle met talent mors!
Kom Nollis, wys vir ons jy kan die Bulle se talent beter gebruik, van senior tot juniors.
Die jong Hanro Liebenberg, ook ’n voormalige kaptein van die Jong Bokkies, sal dan beheer neem."
So Arno gaan altyd net een helfte speel? en dan is daar 'n ander kaptein in die tweede helfte? en waar gaan hy speel as De Jager vir Botha vervang?
Doen jouself n guns en ondersteun die naweek n ware champion team.
LIONS - 2016 SUPERRUGBY CHAMPS
Goeie vraag. Ek dink SARU gaan geluide maak na die finaal.
Arno is the obvious choice as captain. He has come a long way in leadership positions since his school days. Bothma will be back for Super 18 rugby. Whether he is our best remains to be seen. What I saw impressed me, but that was against very poor opposition.
Francois - Hou op lieg.
Jy het gespring van Kings af na nou sommer die Leeus toe, jy weet niks van rugby, ons almal staan nou agter die Leeus, so hou op om te sê ons staan nie agter die Leeus, gaan kry vir jou iets om te doen jy is vervelig
Barend en sy raad stel nie meer belang om te presteer nie. Middelmatigheid is goed, solank hulle die politici tevrede stel. Elke tweede kwota-speler wat dit nie op die veld maak nie, word nou opgelei as afrigter, tegniese adviseur, spanbestuurder of sommer skop-afrigter!
Kenners van die Bulle se geskiedenis sal vir jou vertel dat 'n man soos Wynie Strydom 'n reuse rol gespeel het in die sukses van die Bulle tussen 2002 (eerste Curriebeker onder Heyneke) en 2010 (laaste SuperRugby trofee). Nou gaan dit vir Barend-hulle nie meer oor die kwaliteite van die man wat in die belangrike pos as spanbestuurder aangestel word nie, maar oor sy velkleur. Kyk maar as jy weer op Loftus kom, AL die Bulle se spanbestuurders is getransformeer!
Die Bulle versink in die dryfsand van middelmatigheid weens politiek. Dis die feite!