FRIDAY, 12.30PM:
HARRY VILJOEN, coach of the Western Stormers and Western Province has quit.
Viljoen’s decision to quit the game has come as a surprise to the rugby public, but players say they have known about his intention to leave the sport since the return of the Stormers from New Zealand ten days ago.
Viljoen transformed the Western Province team last year, turning them from no-hopers in 1996 to 1997 Currie Cup champions.
Although Viljoen has indicated that his decision is based purely on business, and that he has told the WP Rugby Union that he will stay on as coach only until the end of the Super-12, there have been reports of Viljoen and his assistant Alan Solomons publicly clashing while in New Zealand.
Members of the Stormers team say there have been repeated altercations between the two, and it seems these differences have led to the split.
There have been hints from Stormers players that the management style of Viljoen has not been up to scratch, and players say that he is uncommunicative. Solomons’ management style is apparently better suited to most of the players’ needs, and Viljoen’s bluntness about the shortcomings of the team in the Super-12 may be the reason for his unpopularity.
“[I] loved my time in rugby, and there is a possibility that I may stay on in an advisory capacity,” said Viljoen.
SPORT BRIEFS
WARRIORS PLAY SAUDI’S IN CANNES
NAMIBIA’S “Brave Warriors” will play World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia in their first match outside of the African continent in Cannes, France on Sunday. The Namibians will enter uncharted territory, and will have to play a stormer if they are to impress the finnicky French fans. The Warriors will no doubt look for a victory to avenge their recent 5-2 loss to Zimbabwe. Foreign scouts will most certainly be on the prowl for new signings, giving the Namibians all the more reason for playing their hearts out.
PLAYER BANNED FOR TEN YEARS
RIAAN DAVEL, the West Rand lock-forward who punched referee Alan McNaughton in a Grand Challenge club match against Pirates last weekend, has been banned from rugby for ten years. The sentence carries a five-year suspension.
SA U/21S BEATEN
THE South African Under-21 soccer side were beaten 1-0 by Argentina in a Group A match in the under-21 soccer championships in Toulon, France last night. The South Africans will still play England and France.
SARPA SEEKS MEMBERS
THE NEWLY formed South African Rugby Players’ Association said on Thursday it is embarking on a drive to increase its membership from the current level of 87 to at least 250 by the end of May. An interim executive committee will serve until November, when the union’s first general meeting takes place.
SA TOP-ORDER SHINE
GERRY LIEBENBERG, Jacques Kallis and Daryll Cullinan shone on the first day of the South African touring squad’s first match in England when they both notched up half centuries against Worcester. Kallis scored a brilliant 75, Liebenberg fell on 98, and Daryll Cullinan wyhacked a quick-fire 67. Only Gary Kirsten failed, caught bat-pad for one. Hansie Cronje declared the tourists’ innings on 287/4.
COETZER BATTLES INTO THIRD ROUND
SOUTH Africa’s Amanda Coetzer battled into the third round of the German Open in Berlin on Wednesday. The fourth seed Coetzer beat local girl Andrea Glass 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.
STRAUSS CAN STAY, VOS CAN’T
SOUTH African Tiaan Strauss will be the only overseas player, apart from Argentenian Patricio Noriega, allowed to represent Australia in Super-12 matches in 1999. Australian Rugby Union general manager John O’Neill introduced the new eligibilty rules whereby only players eligible to play for the Wallabys would be allowed to play Super-12. This is good news for South Africans as livewire flanker Andre Vos will make his return to SA rugby because of the law. Strauss and Noriega, however are planning to play for the Wallabys in 1999.
SA TEAM TO PLAY WORCESTERSHIRE ON THURSDAY
THE South African cricket team to play Worcestershire in the first match of their English tour is: Gary Kirsten, Gerhardus Liebenberg, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, Adam Bacher, Mornantau Hayward, Adam Bacher (12th man).
FOREIGN LEGION FLOCK TO COMRADES
MORE than 350 foreigners from 38 countries, including some 200 novices will start the 1998 Comrades marathon. The largest contingent of runners is from Britain, with 35 followed by the US with 29, Australia, 27, and Russia with 19 entrants.