Latest news with #BathobeleHlekani
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Beefy Bartho Hlekani can fill a big hole for Lions after injury blow against the Sharks in Currie Cup
Angelo Davids of the Lions scores, despite the attentions of Phiko Sobahle of the Sharks at Emirates Airline Park this past weekend. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Lions' handsome 46-5 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks came at a cost, with flank Izan Esterhuizen suffering a serious injury. However, this setback could be offset by the timely arrival of burly Bathobele Hlekani, a Junior Springbok who made a huge impact in Italy. Hlekani has been with the Sharks but, curiously, has slipped out of their net. His signature is a significant coup for a Lions squad that usually sees players going the other way — to Durban, as has been the recent case with Springbok Edwill van der Merwe and Emmanuel Tshituka. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Hlekani was one of three players from the victorious Junior Bok side at the World U20 Championship to be invited to train with the Springboks. Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi said they would like Hlekani to join them pronto. 'Izan's injury looks like a season-ender,' Nkosi said. 'We will try and get Batho to Joburg sooner rather than later. Yeah, he's probably out for the season, so we have to scramble hard. I just spoke to the CEO; we will have to source another openside flanker as soon as possible,' the coach added. The Lions outclassed a Sharks side that was packed with newcomers. With ball in hand, Bathobele Hlekani drives forward, a formidable force who will soon bring his Junior Springbok power and talent to the Lions' pack. Photo: World Rugby Image: World Rugby 'I wouldn't say we were a more experienced side, but we are probably more settled,' Nkosi said. 'Nico Steyn just turned 22, and Jarrod Cairns has only just turned 23. SJ Kotze is still 21; RF Schoeman hasn't turned 22 yet. We are probably a whole lot more settled than JP's team (Pietersen's). When SJ came on, I thought he made a difference.' 'I am happy with the level of performance,' Nkosi continued. 'We were a bit apprehensive. We haven't played a game. The Pumas have played two or three, Griquas have played, and Province have played two. "So, we and the Bulls have gone in cold. We were nervous. So it's good that we got the cobwebs out, and also that we got a result like we got.' Nkosi praised the performances of Angelo Davids and Rabs Maxwane, who were constant threats on attack. Davids has joined the Lions from the Stormers. 'If you can have guys like Angelo and Rabs on the edges, you want to get the ball to them sooner rather than later. That's who we are and how we want to play. "Angelo will hit his straps. He must have had three games in two seasons. He has been frustrated; his game hasn't improved at the trajectory that he would have liked. "So, hopefully, before the start of the URC, he can get to a place where he can compete. And obviously, there is a vacancy with the departure of Edwill van der Merwe, so hopefully, he can put his hand up to stake a claim in that URC team.'
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Lions poach Sharks' Junior Bok star
The 20-year-old Hlekani played for the Sharks in last year's Currie Cup and came off the bench in their European Challenge Cup round-of-16 clash against Lyon in April. The Lions have acquired the services of Bathobele Hlekani after his standout performance at the U20 World Championship. Picture:. A world champion Junior Springbok is set to swap Durban for Joburg after the Currie Cup. Utility forward Bathobele Hlekani was a standout performer in Italy as South Africa won the World U20 Championship for the first time since 2012. He was also one of three Junior Boks – along with scrumhalf Haashim Pead and winger Cheswill Jooste – invited to train with the Springboks during their recent two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg. The 20-year-old Hlekani played for the Sharks in last year's Currie Cup and came off the bench in their European Challenge Cup round-of-16 clash against Lyon in April. He is part of the Sharks' 2025 Currie Cup squad but was rested for their opening match against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday. According to Planet Rugby, Hlekani will join the Lions ahead of the 2025-26 Vodacom URC season – bucking the recent trend of talent heading in the opposite direction. It's a major coup for the Lions, who have already secured Pead through to 2028 and signed exciting Grey College trio Ethan Adams, Sherwin Buys and David Hayidakis. This story was first published on It is republished here with permission.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Rassie Erasmus involves Junior Bok stars in Springboks' preparations for Wallabies Tests
Junior Springboks star Bathobele Hlekani will get an opportunity to train with the Springboks ahead of the Rugby Championship Tests against Australia. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has selected a strong 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Rugby Championship against Australia, featuring 24 World Cup-winners and five players who made their Test debuts during the recent matches against Italy and Georgia. The Bok coach also invited three young guns, who were members of the triumphant Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship squad – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead – to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday 27 July, to orientate them into the Springbok culture. The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), and Cobus Wiese (utility forward). Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership, although he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise, while No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad.
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Erasmus names experience and young blood in Bok squad for Australia Tests
Three players from Junior Boks will train with senior team ahead of Rugby Championship kickoff Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus selected a strong 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Rugby Championship against Australia, featuring 24 World Cup-winners and five players who made their Test debuts during their successful Incoming Series. The Bok coach also invited three young players who were members of the triumphant Junior Bok World Rugby Under-20 Championship squad — Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead — to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday. The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are utility back Ethan Hooker, props Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Boan Venter, hooker Marnus van der Merwe and utility forward Cobus Wiese. Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership, though he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise. No 8 Jasper Wiese is serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad. Five tries in three starts 🇿🇦🔥 Has Edwill van der Merwe locked in his spot in The Rugby Championship squad? 🤔💭 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 22, 2025 A handful of players have been released to their respective franchises to build up game time in the Currie Cup, though a few of them have been placed on standby for the Wallaby Tests. The standby players are centre Lukhanyo Am, who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle; scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, wing Makazole Mapimpi, lock Salmaan Moerat, No 8 Evan Roos, prop Neethling Fouche and flank Vincent Tshituka. The squad has 20 forwards and 17 backline players. The Springboks face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on August 16 and Cape Town on August 23. 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship,' Erasmus said. 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rassie Erasmus has named his squad that will face the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship next month 🇿🇦 Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead have been invited to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Joburg. #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 23, 2025 'This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches. 'We have informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them so all of them are ready to step up if needed.' Erasmus elaborated on the composition of the squad. 'We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition. 'One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.' Erasmus expects a completely different challenge in the Rugby Championship to that against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia. 'Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world and if one considers we won the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 last year, it is clear this will be a completely different kettle of fish. 'All three teams have beaten us in the last few years and they play a different style of rugby to the other opposition we have faced thus far, but we are pleased with the foundation we laid in the last few weeks and we know exactly what areas of our game we need to work on.' Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand in September before making the journey Down Under, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on September 6, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on September 13. The Boks wrap up their campaign with Tests against Argentina in Durban on September 27 and in London on October 4. Springbok squad Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls) Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers)
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Winning teams bring cheer to South Africa
From Banyana to the Boks to the U20 rugby stars, there was plenty to cheer this last weekend. Bathobele Hlekani of South Africa celebrates with his team-mates and the trophy after the Junior Boks won the U20 Championship in Italy. Picture:When it's good, it's really good. There is nothing quite like the South African sports fan … when our teams win and are successful we're the best supporters out there, but when we lose, we can moan for days. But today we can all be proudly South African and celebrate a great sporting weekend. And we're not quite done yet either because there's some way to go for the Proteas, who're playing in a tri-series tournament in Zimbabwe, while Banyana Banyana are still in the running to defend their Wafcon title, so there could be more celebrations to come. But for now, let's celebrate Banyana, who have qualified for the Wafcon semifinals after beating Senegal 4-1 on penalties on Saturday night in Morocco. They next face Nigeria on Tuesday. Before Andile Dlamini's shot-stopping heroics, our rugby teams got the SA flag flying high with the reigning world champions, the Springboks, and the Junior Boks winning important matches. Future stars Siya Kolisi, back after a lengthy injury break, led the Boks to a big 55-10 win against Georgia in Mbombela; the side wrapping up their mid-year Tests unbeaten. They will next turn their attention to the Rugby Championship and bigger challenges, but things are looking good for Rassie Erasmus and his charges. And then it was the turn of Riley Norton and his powerful Junior Boks team to beat their New Zealand counterparts in the final of the U20 Championship, to lift the title for the first time in 13 years. What a performance that was by our young players and future Bok stars. Just like the senior Boks, who didn't lose a game in the last four weeks, Norton's team went unbeaten through the tournament in Italy, to be crowned junior champions of the world. We cannot wait to see how these young stars of the future develop and progress in their careers. All of these achievements and wins come not long after Temba Bavuma's Test Proteas won the championship final in London, beating Australia inside four days. It's good being a South African sports fan right now, so let's all enjoy it.
