Springbok flanker Ben-Jason Dixon will make his return from rugby after a long layoff by wearing his regular No 7 jersey when the DHL Stormers XV play the Hollywoodbets Sharks in a pre-season friendly in George on Friday night (Kick-off 6pm at Outeniqua Park).
Dixon missed the second half of last season due to injury and he was sorely missed by the Stormers so director of rugby John Dobson will be pleased to see him back on the field as the next edition of the Vodacom URC looms with an opening game against competition champions Leinster in Cape Town a fortnight from now.
Also in the Stormers team for the clash with their coastal rivals is another Bok, Andre-Hugo Venter, who made his international debut last year but has not featured much in Rassie Erasmus’ plans this year. With the need to get a decent back-up for Malcolm Marx, and probably a replacement going forward, starting to become more pressing, this season could be a big one for the son of legendary former Bok flank Andre Venter.
There are several players missing from the Stormers squad as they start a week long camp on the Garden Route with this friendly game, and those include Bok loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu, who is a new arrival from the Sharks, as well as fellow Bok front row forward Neethling Fouche. Ali Vermaak and Sazi Sandi are also currently injured, while Jonathan Roche, Evan Roos and Ruben van Heerden are missing the game because they are being rested due to slight niggles.
Fullback Warrick Gelant, scrumhalf Imad Khan and experienced centre Dan du Plessis are training with the squad at present but were not considered for the Sharks game as a precaution.
A 28-man squad has been called up for the George game, with new recruit Clinton Swart making his debut for the Stormers off the bench. The Airlink Pumas player has been signed up on a short term loan.
Jurie Matthee will start in the No 10 jersey against the Sharks, and the side will be captained by Ruhan Nel, with the veteran moving from his usual position of outside centre to inside centre for this game. Wandisile Simelane will wear the No 13 jersey, while Luke Burger continues at fullback after playing their last week in the Carling Currie Cup game against Boland Kavaliers in the absence of Gelant.
DHL Stormers XV: Luke Burger, Seabelo Senatla, Wandisile Simelane, Ruhan Nel (captain), Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Dewaldt Duvenage, Marcel Theunissen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, JD Schickerling, Adre Smith, Zachary Porthen, Andre-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Oliver Reid, Cabous Eloff, JJ Kotze, Alex Groves, Connor Evans, Louw Nel, Stefan Ungerer, Clinton Swart, Damian Markus, Jared Africa, Justin Geduld, Sako Makata.