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Chery South Africa Renews Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Partnership for Three Years

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Chery South Africa has announced the renewal of its sponsorship of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, extending the partnership for an additional three years from 2026. The renewal follows four successful years of collaboration and coincides with the fourth anniversary of Chery’s relaunch in South Africa.

The partnership has played a key role in the continued growth and success of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, with Chery South Africa serving as the Official Vehicle Partner. Chery’s fleet supports event logistics and operations across all host cities, contributing to a seamless race experience from build-up week through to race day.

“Chery’s commitment, innovation and enthusiasm have helped elevate the series year after year,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports.

“We are proud to welcome them for another three years as we continue to deliver world-class running events across South Africa.”

Wade Bromfield and Verene Petersen by Ray van Breda

Tony Liu, CEO of Chery South Africa, says the brand is excited to continue the journey. “Over the past four years, we’ve built a strong partnership and created memorable experiences for runners and Chery owners alike. We look forward to further strengthening our connection with the running community and the cities we celebrate.”

Chery at Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series by David-Sullivan

The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series features five major 10km races in Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane and Johannesburg. The renewed partnership will continue to focus on innovation, performance and enhanced runner and supporter experiences.

For more information, visit www.runyourcityseries.com.

Stormers v Bulls: When Bok Futures and Proven Steel Collide

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By Adnaan Mohamed

There are derbies, and then there are rugby events that feel bigger than the competition table. The Stormers versus Bulls north–south clash at a sold-out DHL Stadium on Saturday belongs firmly in the latter category. It’s a fixture where reputations are tested as brutally as defensive lines.

The first URC blockbuster of 2026 arrives wrapped in symbolism. Damian Willemse will make his 100th start for the Stormers. Ruan Nortje returns to captain the Bulls. And at flyhalf, the generational baton hangs tantalisingly between two Springboks: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handré Pollard.

One represents the present tense of South African rugby’s future: instinctive, elastic, daring. The other is its hardened past and still-relevant present: precise, economical, forged in World Cup fire. Saturday is less about rivalry than rugby arithmetic: what happens when flair meets control under maximum pressure?

Stormers: Tempo, Power and Cape Town Edge

The Stormers receive a significant boost with the return of Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu, restoring balance to a side that thrives on momentum. Willemse’s presence in midfield alongside Wandisile Simelane gives the hosts ballast and punch, while Cobus Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu form a halfback pairing designed to accelerate the game.

Director of Rugby John Dobson framed the occasion without hyperbole:

“This is one of the biggest club rugby matches in the world and will be played in front of a sold-out DHL Stadium. It should be an incredible experience for everyone there.

We know that we will need to be at our absolute best throughout the game to come away with the result.”

Out wide, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Leolin Zas provide finishing pace, with Warrick Gelant lurking at the back like a counter-attacking wildcard. Up front, captain Salmaan Moerat marshals a pack that blends aggression with continuity, supported by Evan Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon in the loose — players built for derby combat.

Bulls: Structure, Steel and World Cup Calm

The Bulls arrive in Cape Town with a side subtly reshaped for control rather than chaos. Ruan Nortje’s return to the starting XV restores authority to the pack, while Marco van Staden adds breakdown venom. The front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw remains intact, signalling a clear intent to contest the set-piece battle.

Behind them sits a familiar Bulls spine: Pollard at 10, Willie le Roux at 15, David Kriel in midfield — experience stacked upon experience. Canan Moodie’s move to centre injects line-breaking speed, while Paul de Wet starts at scrumhalf against his former side.

Head coach Johan Ackermann underlined the method behind the selection:

“We’ve assessed the Sharks game and made adjustments where needed. Ruan’s leadership is vital, and bringing in players like Canan Moodie and Marco van Staden gives us the right balance for this contest. It’s about alignment and intensity as we start the year.”

The Key Battlegrounds

The obvious headline is flyhalf, but the game may hinge elsewhere. The midfield collisions between Willemse and Moodie will dictate gain-line success. The breakdown duel with Roos and Dixon versus Van Staden and Louw, could determine territory. And off the bench, both sides possess finishers capable of swinging momentum late.

This is not a derby built on nostalgia. It is one shaped by present ambition and future consequence. The Stormers want tempo and emotion. The Bulls want structure and silence.

Cape Town will decide which philosophy holds firm when the noise peaks.

Team Sheets

DHL Stormers:
15 Warrick Gelant; 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Ruan Ackermann; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c); 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee.

Vodacom Bulls:
15 Willie le Roux; 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khuta Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Devon Williams.

Match Information

Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 18:00 (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Blitzboks Seek Pride and Payback in Cape Town Sevens Showdown

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The early Cape Town light had just begun dissolving the mist over Table Mountain when the Blitzboks filed through the airport doors, the weariness of a long Dubai flight etched into their shoulders. But in the middle of the group, Ricardo Duarttee walked with the quiet intent of a man who’d already circled one date in bold red: Cape Town Sevens weekend.

Dubai may have left them with a fifth-place finish and a few unwelcome scratch marks, but the sweepers and speedsters of South Africa’s Sevens squad are not known for dwelling on bruises. The moment their plane hit the tarmac, the city’s salty summer breeze felt like a second chance.

“We regrouped on Sunday already after the disappointment of Saturday, as one could see on our day two results,” Duarttee explained, the memory of a tough pool still lingering.

“It hurts that we dropped results to Fiji and Argentina in our pool, but we came back on Sunday to get some belief back.”

Belief – South African rugby’s most renewable resource – will matter again this weekend when the Blitzboks step into DHL Stadium, a venue Duarttee speaks of the way some speak of childhood playgrounds.

“Cape Town is just such a special place to play at. There is a massive feeling of excitement for the weekend.”

The Blitzboks hoisted the Cape Town trophy last year, only the second time since the tournament moved south in 2015, and no one in green and gold is in the mood to wait another eight years for the next.

“We certainly do not want to wait that long again, in fact, the squad will be very determined to right the wrongs from Dubai,” he said.

For Duarttee, statistics and score tallies don’t define their mission. Emotion does. Connection does. And the home crowd with the sea of flags, the hum of vuvuzelas, the familiar roar matters more than any number on the scoreboard.

“We play for the love of the game, for the passion we have for it and this weekend, we get to play in front of family, friends and loyal supporters.”

Pool of Death

This year’s pool is ruthless: New Zealand first, then the familiar bruises of Fiji, rounded off by Great Britain. But to Duarttee, that’s the perfect storm.

“What an opportunity this will be for us to rectify the mistakes and show what we are capable of, especially in front of a proper crowd to cheer us on. I cannot wait for Saturday, it is going to be a huge day.”

He didn’t end the conversation so much as issue a call to arms.

“We need to put some pride back in the Springbok Sevens jersey and where better that right here. There is no place like DHL Stadium on the weekend of the Cape Town Sevens.

“We need our supporters to come and celebrate our only opportunity to play at home with us. See you there.”

Source: SA Rugby

Peter de Villiers: “I’d trade the Bok job for this”

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By Adnaan Mohamed

In the storm-tossed sea of the Cape Flats, where life often tackles harder than any front-row forward, one rugby club stands as an unsinkable ark a vessel of hope, discipline, and brotherhood carrying young men toward safer shores.

Hamediehs Rugby Football Club, born in District Six in 1896, is one of South Africa’s oldest rugby institutions. Today, its home in Vygieskraal, Athlone stands as a sanctuary for hundreds of boys navigating life’s toughest scrums.

For these kids, Hamediehs isn’t just a team – it’s a lifeline. A second family. A patch of grass where discipline, identity and pride grow stronger with every pass and tackle.

Ark of Hope – A Hamediehs Story

The following video follows a 13-year-old boy’s journey, as he navigates the harsh realities of life on the Cape Flats in Cape Town.

His salvation comes in the form of Hamediehs RFC, a club that is more than just a team, it is a brotherhood built on love and perseverance.

For this young man and his teammates, Hamediehs is the enduring ark that carries them through the floods of adversity, offering a powerful hope of triumph.

And now, they’ve found a mentor in Peter de Villiers, the former Springbok coach who once led the national side to glory between 2008 and 2011 but now finds meaning far beyond Test arenas.

“For me, rugby is part of my life,” says De Villiers.

“But to them, rugby is their life. Rugby makes them who they are. It makes them enjoy being alive.”

Every weekend at Vygieskraal, the sidelines erupt in noise and emotion with passionate parents doubling as coaches, grandparents cheering through memories, and entire families finding purpose through the game.

“You can see on the sidelines how many coaches they have with parents living through their children, through a club they’ve built over the years,” says De Villiers.

While many rugby systems chase pure talent, Hamediehs takes a different approach – one rooted in patience, heart, and belief.

“Wherever you go, people look for talent,” he explains.

“Here, people don’t care about talent, because everybody has it. They go for potential.

Talent has a sell-by date, but potential can be developed. We’re using rugby to help them become the best human beings they can be.”

It’s an ethos that mirrors life itself.

“With all the emotions that life throws at you, rugby throws them too,” De Villiers adds.

“If you learn how to handle it here, you can go back into life and make a valuable contribution to someone else.”

For a man who’s coached on the biggest stages, it’s the grassroots energy of Hamediehs that has truly captured his soul.

“I said it to them the other night:

“I’d easily trade the Springbok job for a job like this if I’m able to share my knowledge with people like them.”

Through wars, forced removals and decades of struggle, Hamediehs RFC has weathered every storm. What began in District Six still lives on – a brotherhood that refuses to sink.

Today, it remains an ark of hope, carrying each new generation across the turbulent waters of the Cape Flats – one try, one lesson, one life at a time.

130-year-old Hamediehs Rugby Football Club Legacy

Established: 1896
Base: Vygieskraal, Athlone, Cape Town
Origin: District Six – one of South Africa’s oldest clubs
Legacy: Building character, not just players
Motto: Brotherhood Through Rugby

Van Niekerk, Commins Keep Dreams Alive

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Adnaan Mohamed

Groenewald Brothers Shine

The Growthpoint Nationals in Cape Town served up rallies of grit and guile on Friday, with Dewald van Niekerk and Alex Commins keeping their championship bids firmly in play, while the Groenewald brothers showed that the future of South African squash is already pressing hard at the glass.

Defending champion Van Niekerk, the man who has ruled the domestic court for nearly half a decade, fended off 19-year-old Luhann Groenewald in a semifinal that was as much a passing-of-the-torch preview as it was a title bout.

The Northerns teenager swung with courage and stamina, but Van Niekerk’s control and precision were like a player who always finds the perfect length after eventually wearing his opponent down 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 in 37 lung-busting minutes.

That victory sets up a repeat final against Luhann’s elder brother Damian, who played the immaculate straight drive to sink former champ JP Brits 3-0.

Damian Groenewald Picture credit: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

The 21-year-old held his nerve, showing patience and placement, while forcing the 34-year-old into wild, risky shots. It was the kind of disciplined squash that announces a player not just chasing the ball, but chasing greatness.

On the women’s side, Commins gave a ruthless reminder of why she once climbed to 22 in the world rankings. Playing with the sharpness of a volley kill, she dismantled Kim McDonald 11-2, 11-3, 11-3, conceding only eight points in a flawless display. For Commins, every outing is about raising the bar higher:

“You just have to find a way to get the job done. You can’t relax against anyone.” Tomorrow, she meets Hayley Ward, who justified her top seed with a commanding 3-0 victory over Teagan Russell, injecting pace and aggression at every opening.

Beyond the senior spotlight, the juniors added fresh bounce to the tournament. KZN’s top seed Rylee Howells tightened her grip on the U15 girls’ crown with back-to-back wins, while the boys’ U15 division is heading for a nail-biting finish, with all four contenders locked at one win apiece—Saturday’s final matches will decide who stands tall when the dust settles.

With Van Niekerk chasing a record fifth title, Commins hunting her sixth, and the Groenewald brothers showing the sport’s next chapter is already on court, the Growthpoint Nationals are shaping up like a rally that just keeps getting bette with each point harder, faster, and more thrilling than the last.

Friday’s results were:

Seniors

Women – Semifinals

1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) 3-0 (11-3 11-6 11-5), 3-Alex Commins (WP) bt 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns) 3-0 (11-1 11-1 11-6)

Pool 5-8

Helena Hudson (Northerns) bt Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-1 (11-4 11-13 11-2 16-14), Alexa Pienaar (SACD) bt Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-0 (11-6 11-8 11-8), Alexa Pienaar (SACD) bt Helena Hudson (Northerns) 3-0 (11-4 11-9 11-5), Lara Patrick (Northerns) bt Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-0 (11-3 11-9 14-12).

Men – Semifinals

1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) bt 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) 3-0 (11-3 11-8 11-9), 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt 3-JP Brits (SACD) 3-0 (11-8 11-3 11-4).

Pool 5-8

John Anderson (Joburg Squash) bt Luke van Vuuren (SACD) 3-1 (11-5 9-11 15-13 14-12), Reuel Videler (SACD) bt Jonty Matthys (SACD) 3-2 (9-11 11-9 10-12 11-2 11-9), John Anderson (Joburg Squash) bt Jonty Matthys (SACD) 3-0 (11-9 11-1 11-6), Reuel Videler (SACD) bt Luke van Vuuren (SACD) 3-1 (10-12 11-7 11-8 11-9)

U15– Girls: Pool 1-4 – Rylee Howells (KZN) bt Jasmaine Rust (Free State) 3-0 (11-1 11-4 11-7), Genevieve Lang (WP) bt Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) 3-0 (11-8 11-5 11-8).

Pool 5-8 – Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash) bt Mienke Stander (Boland) 3-0 (11-6 11-6 11-9), Faatima Packery (EP) bt Hanja Gildenhuys (Eden) 3-2 (11-5 11-7 10-12 10-12 11-2).

Boys– Pool 1-4 -Liam Fehrsen (EP) bt Ashton Burger (EP) 3-2 (9-11 11-4 11-7 3-11 11-9), Codey Abrahams (Eden) bt Zander Smit (Boland) 3-1 (11-3 9-11 11-8 11-4). 

Pool 5-8- Milton Posthumus (WP) bt Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) 3-1 (11-4 9-11 11-6 11-4), Jeremy John (KZN) bt George Hung (Free State) 3-0 (11-9 12-10 11-4).

McDonald’s Shakes Up Squash Nationals

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The Growthpoint SA Nationals opened with a bang at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront as seventh seed Kim McDonald stunned second seed Alexa Pienaar in straight games, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.

McDonald, a qualified doctor working in Eswatini, played with surgical precision to cut through Pienaar’s game. Her variation and attacking intent never allowed her opponent to settle.

“We’ve had some really good matches in the past and I know Alexa is a fierce competitor,” McDonald said. “When you play her, you have to make sure your belief is high. I just had to take my chances because the front of the court can be quite dead, and I focused on mixing it up with a solid length.”

For McDonald, the victory was as unexpected as it was satisfying.

“At the moment I get some squash in over the weekends and do some trail running to keep sane, but to come here and get a win is something I will treasure,” the 29-year-old admitted.

Her next opponent is defending champion Alex Commins, who breezed past Lara Patrick in three games.

Seeds Stay Firm

Elsewhere, the tournament’s top names stayed solid. Dewald van Niekerk, chasing a record fifth consecutive title, demolished teammate Luke van Vuuren 11-2, 11-2, 11-5, while women’s top seed Hayley Ward survived some testing moments against Helena Hudson before winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-8.

Teenager Steps Up

The men’s draw also saw a breakthrough from Luhann Groenewald. The 19-year-old Northerns prodigy, twice an U19 champion, marked his senior debut with a composed 3-0 win over fifth seed Reuel Videler.

Luhann Groenewald Picture credit: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

“That takes a bit of pressure off, and I just aim to go out and give it my best against Dewald tomorrow,” he said.

“I was happy with the way I played today, although I fell off a bit in the last game before coming back. But I’ll take that win and look forward to the next challenge.”

Junior Fireworks

The day’s most dramatic encounter unfolded in the U15 boys’ section, where Eastern Province’s Ashton Burger pulled off a miraculous comeback against Western Province’s Milton Posthumus.

Ashton Burger Picture credit: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

Posthumus led 2-1 and had four game points in the fourth, only for Burger to rally. Then, in the decider, Posthumus stood on the brink at 10-4 up before Burger reeled off eight consecutive points for an astonishing 12-10 win.

“I just decided that I wasn’t going to give in,” Burger said. “It was about not looking too far ahead and just keeping my concentration.”

He joined EP teammate and top seed Liam Fehrsen, who cruised past Free State’s 12-year-old George Hung. In the girls’ U15s, KwaZulu-Natal’s Rylee Howells was too strong for Eden’s Hanja Gildenhuys, winning 3-0.

Opening Day Verdict

From McDonald’s clinical takedown of Pienaar, to Groenewald’s fearless senior debut, to Burger’s Houdini act in the juniors, day one served a reminder: squash at the Nationals is never scripted.

Momentum swings faster than a ball off the tin, and as the week unfolds, fans can expect more drama, more upsets, and more proof that in this game, no seed is truly safe.

Thursday’s results were:

Seniors

Women

1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 8-Helena Hudson (Northerns) 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-8), 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns) bt 2-Alexa Pienaar (SACD) 3-0 (12-10 11-6 11-7), 3-Alex Commins (WP) bt 6-Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-0 (11-3 11-3 11-4), 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) bt 5-Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-1 (11-13 11-9 11-1 11-9).

Men

1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) bt 3-0 (11-2 11-2 11-5), 8-Luke van Vuuren (SACD), 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt 7-Jonty Matthys (SACD) 3-0 (11-3 12-10 11-3), 3-JP Brits (SACD) bt 6-John Anderson (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (11-9 6-11 11-8 11-3), 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) bt 5-Reuel Videler (SACD) 3-0 (11-6 11-5 11-9).

U15

Girls

1-Rylee Howells (KZN) bt 8-Hanja Gildenhuys (Eden) 3-0 (11-6 11-1 11-2), 2-Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) bt 7-Mienke Stander (Boland) 3-1 (11-0 11-9 8-11 11-4), 3-Genevieve Lang (WP) bt 6-Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash) 3-0 (11-2 11-3 11-2), 4-Jasmaine Rust (Free State) bt Fatima Packery (EP) 3-0 (1-5 11-1 11-8).

Boys

1-Liam Fehrsen (EP) bt George Hung (Free State) 3-0 (11-4 11-3 11-3), 2-Codey Abrahams (Eden) bt 7-Jeremy John (KZN) 3-1 (11-9 7-11 11-3 13-11), 6-Zander Smit (Boland) bt 3-Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) 3-0 (11-1 11-9 11-3), 5-Ashton Burger (EP) bt 4-Milton Posthumus (WP) 3-2 (11-4 9-11 6-11 11-9 12-10).

Battle for Squash Supremacy at SA Senior Nationals

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The glass courts at the V&A Waterfront are about to become a pressure cooker. From August 28 to 30, the Growthpoint Senior Nationals will see South Africa’s finest squash players chase silverware, sweat, and legacy in one of the sport’s most fiercely contested showdowns.

At the heart of the drama is defending champion Dewald van Niekerk. The Gqeberha-born powerhouse has turned this championship into his personal fortress.

Since 2021, no domestic player has managed to prise the trophy from his grasp. Now, at 28, he’s chasing a fifth consecutive title, a feat that would shatter Steve Coppinger’s streak of four and cement his place in squash history.

On paper, Van Niekerk is the immovable wall. In practice, he refuses to treat this as a forgone conclusion.

“Being the top seed doesn’t stop me from preparing thoroughly,” he said.

“This event is hugely important to me, and I always mark it as a priority on my calendar.”

That relentless reset has been his secret weapon. But history rarely comes easy, and his rivals are ready to rattle the fortress walls.

Chief among them is Northerns’ Damian Groenewald, the second seed who dragged Van Niekerk into a bruising four-game final last year.

“I have worked on my game in all aspects…mental, physical, tactical and technical,” said the SA Country Districts player, ranked 68 in the world.

If Van Niekerk is granite, Groenewald is the pickaxe.

“And I have developed a good level of confidence in my abilities.”

Add 2019 champion JP Brits to the mix, and the men’s draw looks primed for fireworks.

If Van Niekerk rules the men’s game, then the women’s side has its own queen.

Cape Town’s Alex Commins, once ranked 22 in the world, is chasing her sixth Growthpoint crown. Her first came a decade ago in 2015, her latest in 2024, and she shows no sign of slowing.

Unlike Van Niekerk, Commins competes with a different fire these days. Retirement from the PSA Tour has stripped away the grind while sharpening her joy.

“Fortunately, I haven’t lost that competitive edge, but I feel more relaxed since I retired,” she said.

“There is less pressure on training for matches and I am playing now because I enjoy it, so that’s been a really refreshing shift. I am still training hard and always on the go, but I do it now because I enjoy what I am doing and where I am at.”

It may sound like a softer approach, but opponents know better. Her chief challenger, Eastern Province’s Hayley Ward, ranked No 75 in the world, remains the one player who can push her closest. Last year’s 3–1 final showed Ward’s grit, but until she topples Commins, she’s still chasing shadows.

Their collision course is set once again, with Ward opening against Northerns’ Helena Hudson and Commins starting her campaign against Lara Patrick.

Yet the Nationals aren’t only about the heavyweights. Alongside the senior battles, South Africa’s rising stars will showcase their flair in the U15 section, where future champions take their first swings at glory.

Names like Milton Posthumus (WP), Cody Abrahams (Eden) and Rylee Howells (KZN) may one day echo in the same breath as Van Niekerk and Commins.

For Squash South Africa, the event remains a showpiece.

“Squash SA is looking forward to yet another successful tournament and we wish all participants the best,” said national manager Jennifer Sawyer.

Three days. Two reigning champions on the brink of history. A field of hungry rivals chasing them down. And a venue as iconic as the V&A Waterfront, where glass walls will turn into mirrors of ambition and pressure.

By the time the last ball dies in the nick, the question will be whether Van Niekerk and Commins extend their rule , or if a challenger finally smashes through.

Players to Watch

Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) – Four-time champ chasing history. The man to beat.
Damian Groenewald (Northerns) – Last year’s runner-up; fearless and fitter than ever.
JP Brits (SACD) – 2019 champion; knows what it takes to go all the way.
Alex Commins (WP) – Five-time women’s winner; relaxed but ruthless.
Hayley Ward (EP) – World No 75; Commins’ toughest rival.
Rylee Howells (KZN) – U15 top seed; the future star to keep an eye on.

The draws for Thursday, 28 August are:

Seniors:

Women: 12.00: 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) v 5-Shelomi Truter (SACD), 1pm 3-Alex Commins (WP) v 6-Lara Patrick (Northerns), 2pm: 2-Alexa Pienaar (SACD) v 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns), 3pm: 1-Hayley Ward (EP) v 8-Helena Hudson (Northerns).

Men: 12.30: 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) v 5-Reuel Videler (SACD), 1.30pm: 3-JP Brits (SACD) v 6-John Anderson (Joburg Squash), 2.30pm: 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) v 7-Jonty Matthys (SACD), 3.30pm: 1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) v 8-Luke van Vuuren (SACD).

Juniors: U15

Girls: 8am: 1-Rylee Howells (KZN) v 8-Hanja Gildenhuys (Eden), 9am: 2-Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) v 7-Mienke Stander (Boland), 10am: 3-Genevieve Lang (WP) v 6-Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash), 11am: 4-Jasmaine Rust (Free State) v 5-Faatima Packery (EP).

Boys: 8.30: 1-Liam Fehrsen (EP) v 8-Georg Hung (Free State), 9.30: 2-Cody Abrahams (Eden) v 7-Jeremy John (KZN), 10.30: 3-Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) v 6-Zander Smit (Boland), 11.30: 4-Milton Posthumus (WP) v 5-Ashton Burger (EP).

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PUMA UNVEILS INNOVATIVE NITRO™ VAN

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on PUMA UNVEILS INNOVATIVE NITRO™ VAN

Gqeberha, 4 April 2024 – PUMA is introducing a NITRO™ VAN to enable runners to engage with the brand’s comprehensive range of NITRO™ running shoes at Absa Run Your City 10km races and at a series of 5km warm-ups.

The NITRO™ VAN, which houses about 200 pairs of running shoes, will be unveiled at the Gqeberha 10km on 7 April and will also attend future Absa Run Your City races in Cape Town (12 May), Durban (7 July), Tshwane (25 August) and Johannesburg (24 September), as well as at PUMA NITRO™ RUNS.

The PUMA NITRO™ RUNS, which take place in the lead up to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series 10km races, provide a platform for runners and walkers to test out PUMA’s latest range which includes the Magnify, Liberate, Velocity, Deviate and Fast-R2 NITRO™ running shoes.

PUMA’s dedicated technical team will be on-site, offering guidance to ensure every participant identifies the shoe that aligns with their unique running style and requirements. Participants in these fun 5km run/walks can also win prizes including a pair of PUMA Velocity NITRO™ 3 running shoes.

The NITRO™ VAN will also facilitate engagement with PUMA retail partners across the country.