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IOL News
4 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
5 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.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Junior Wallabies thrashed 73-17 by South Africa at World U20 Championship
Australia has made a disastrous start to rugby union's World U20 Championship in Italy with an embarrassing 73-17 loss to South Africa in its opening match. As the Wallabies prepare to host the British and Irish Lions in a three-Test series, Australian rugby's next generation of stars were given a reality check at Stadio San Michele, Calvisano. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia this July and August. Coached by ex-Wallabies scrum-half Chris Whitaker, Australia conceded 11 tries. Fullback Sid Harvey scored a try and conversion for Australia, while winger Cooper Watters crossed for a double. South Africa led 33-5 at half-time. The final scoreline came as a shock to many observers, given Australia defeated South Africa 29-24 in the four-team U20 Rugby Championship in Port Elizabeth last month. New Zealand and Argentina also contested the tournament in South Africa. Australia faces Scotland in its second World U20 Championship pool match, which will be played in Viadana on Friday night AEST. The Australians finished sixth at last year's tournament, hosted by South Africa. They have twice reached the World U20 Championship final, most recently in 2019. The 2019 squad included Wallabies captain Harry Wilson, as well as the likes of Fraser McReight, Angus Bell, Noah Lolesio and Mark Nawaqanitawase.
Irish Examiner
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland U20s overcome Georgia to kickstart World Cup campaign
World U20 Championship: Ireland 35 Georgia 28 Ireland got their U-20 World Rugby Championship campaign off to an encouraging start with a bonus point win over a strong Georgian side in Calvisano. Skipper Éanna McCarthy said the key thing was to get the win by a side which finished bottom of the Six Nations earlier this season. 'We knew Georgia was going to be a massive physical battle but we stood up and made a good performance out of it and finished key moments,' said the Cork native who is in the Connacht academy. Head coach Neil Doak will know there is plenty of room for improvement but after winning just one game in the Six Nations the win was all that mattered in stifling heat in northern Italy. They will hope to build on this when they take on the hosts Italy in Viadana next Friday and there were plenty of signs they can achieve a second win there and head into a winner-takes-all final pool showdown with New Zealand. Ireland led 18-14 at the break, having got off to the perfect start when Tullamore RFC product Paidi Farrell crowned his U-20 debut with a try in just over 70 seconds when the winger, who now plays with Old Wesley, scored in the right corner after a pressure blitz from the Irish from the start. When several surges were repelled, out-half Tom Wood went wide with Derry Moloney putting the other winger in for the opening score. Wood, a third generation Irish international following in the footsteps of dad Keith and grandfather Gordon, was off target with the conversion but stretched the lead with a ninth minute penalty and kept the Georgians penned back with some top class kicking from the hand. But the Georgians eventually got on top in the scrum and got back in contention when lock Gagui Margvelashvili was out through by his No.8 Mikheili Shioshvili to score a try converted by full-back Luka Takaishvili to make it 8-7 after 16 minutes. A superb 50:22 down the left by Wood ended with hooker Henry Walker scoring off a good lineout drive, with Wood adding the extras from the wing to make it 15-7. Ireland's wooden spoon finish in the Six Nations had a lot to do with slack defending and Georgia made them pay on the half hour when scrum-half Giorgi Spanderashvili escaped the clutches of five tackles to score from a tapped penalty outside the 22, with Takaishvili cutting the gap to 15-14 with the conversion. Ireland, who had 13 missed tackles to Georgia's three by the break, got their defence sorted and Wood extended the lead with a penalty before Irish tighthead Alex Mullan and Georgian loosehead Bachuki Baratashvili were binned by French referee Jeremy Rozier after repeated reset scrums. Ireland had a chance to extend the lead before the break but amid confusion among the officials over timekeeping, Wood's rushed effort missed the target and they had to settle for 18-14 at the break. Farrell started the second half the same as the first, scoring in the right corner after another good period of sustained pressure, but they were again caught napping at the other end as scrum-half Spanderashvili again tapped and scored from close range to cut the gap to 23-21. But Ireland refused to be rattled and Boyne RFC product Mahon Ronan displayed great strength for the lock to score beside the posts, with Wood's conversion making it 30-21 as Ireland secured the bonus point. Impressive full-back Charlie Molony made the game safe when he stepped inside down the left to score a fine try and make the game safe at 35-21 in the final quarter against a Georgian side who had ten of the side which stretched them all the way in last year's tournament in South Africa. The Georgians deservedly secured a couple of bonus points when replacement hooker Shoya Kheladzescored off a lineout and Takaishvili converted Scorers: Ireland: Tries: P Farrell (2), H Walker, M Ronan, C Molony. Cons: T Wood (2). Pens: Wood (2). Georgia: Tries: G Spanderashvili (2), G Margvelashvili, S Kheladze. Cons: L Takaishvili (4). IRELAND: C Molony; P Farrell (D Green 64), C Mangan, E Smyth (S Wisniewski 65), D Moloney; T Wood, C Logan (W Wootton 56); B Bohan (A Usanov 49)), H Walker (M Yarr 45-50, 60), A Mullan (T McAllister 52); M Ronan, B Corrigan (C Kennelly 56); M Foy, E McCarthy (McAllister 35-45, B Power 56), L Murphy. GEORGIA: L Takaishvili; L Keshelava, D Akhvlediani (S Meskhidze 69), N Kevkhishvili, T Burtikashvili; G Sirbiladze, G Spanderashvili (T Dzodquashvili 64); B Baratashvili (A Nozadze 56), M Khakhubia (S Kheladze 52), M Gurtskaia (G Meskhidze 52); T Tsulukidze (D Baramia 46), G Margvelashvili (N Chkhortolia 56); L Narsia (Nozadze 35-45, N Abesadze 62), A Dvali, M Shioshvili. Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
