Former Springbok Andries “Boeboes” Coetzee makes a welcome return to Ellis Park on Friday as he runs out as part of a bigger Emirates Lions squad to face the Cell C Sharks in a pre-season warm-up game.
Coetzee returned from his time in Italy and will be seen alongside the other new recruits - former Griquas stars Zander du Plessis and Sango Xamlashe while the rest of the big group is made up of a number of stalwarts that are expected to power the Lions Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign for the coming year.
Jaco Kriel and Reinhardt Nothnagel will share the captaincy duties in a game that won’t matter much on the scoreboard but more in terms of getting match fitness in after the first proper off-season in years.
Tiaan Swanepoel, who recently broke World Rugby’s challenge record with a 70m penalty, is also in the squad.
Emirates Lions squad: Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Ruan Smith, Ruben Schoeman, Reinhard Nothnagel, Travis Gordon, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Morne van der Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Edwill van der Merwe, Marius Louw, Henco van Wyk, Quan Horn, Andries Coetzee, Morgan Naude, Jaco Visagie, Ruan Dreyer, Pieter Janse van Vuuren, PJ Steenkamp, Jaco Kriel, Ruhan Straeuli, Emmanuel Tshituka, Sanele Nohamba, Gianni Lombard, Rabz Maxwane, Zander du Plessis, Sango Xamlashe, Stean Pienaar, Tiaan Swanepoel, Stephan Smit, Sibusiso Sangweni, Andre Warner.