{"id":187873,"date":"2018-10-03T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/187873\/local-rugby-players-to-compete-down-under\/"},"modified":"2018-10-03T09:50:18","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T07:50:18","slug":"local-rugby-players-to-compete-down-under","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2018\/10\/03\/local-rugby-players-to-compete-down-under\/","title":{"rendered":"Local rugby players to compete down under"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The South African Rugby League (SARL) national team, The Rhinos, will be looking to increase their world ranking when they take on Italy.<\/p>\n<p>The match will be played in Australia on October 12 and five members of the Germiston-based Bears Rugby League Club have been selected to join the team.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>Andries van der Merwe, Marcelle Viljoen, Robin Howell, Zach van Loggenberg (who have all played in the squad before) and Dieter de la Port were scouted for the team during their club matches.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-187934\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2018\/10\/IMG-20180923-WA0004-520x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2018\/10\/IMG-20180923-WA0004-520x400.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2018\/10\/IMG-20180923-WA0004-300x231.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cA number of the players scouted have been selected before so we know what is expected of us,\u201d explained van der Merwe, who has been selected for the fourth year on the trot.<\/p>\n<p>The quintuple will leave for Australia to join the rest of the team on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Rhinos team this year is largely made up of heritage players, which means they have roots or family members in South Africa but they reside in Australia.<\/p>\n<h4>ALSO READ:\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/186776\/bears-and-mustangs-meet-in-germiston-derby-in-opening-match-of-rhino-cup-league\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bears and Mustangs meet in Germiston derby in opening match of Rhino Cup League<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>\u201cRugby league is a recognised sport in Australia with many people playing it professionally so the inclusion of the players based there is a huge advantage and support for us.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will join the team, who are already training, on October 8, and get straight into training to prepare for the match,\u201d said van der Merwe.<\/p>\n<p>Though excited, van der Merwe is nervous, as the match is a must-win for the team, as they aim to better their world ranking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis match is all about increasing out world ranking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are currently ranked 32 in the world at the moment and Italy 13th.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we are able to beat them it will be a huge boost for South African Rugby League,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<h4>ALSO READ:\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/182946\/become-part-of-the-rugby-league-action-3\/\" target=\"_blank\">Become part of the rugby league action<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>Van der Merwe further explained that there has been some growth in the sport within South Africa but not as much as overseas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRugby league is becoming more popular and we are gaining more exposure through several different channels including government, which is great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMatches such as these and being part of such a diverse and experienced team will allow us to prepare for the World Cup which is in 2021 and the next Olympics, where rugby league will be included.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For more information on the sport or to sponsor the players call van der Merwe on 076 565 0483 or send an email to <a href=\"mailto:andries.supey@gmail.com\">andries.supey@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-admin\/germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\">germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:leighh@caxton.co.za\">leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GCNnews\">Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCblgxW6BRXTLGLQvpcumLqA\">YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Or add the GCN on<span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><strong>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<strong>BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za\/\">Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/\">Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/kemptonexpress.co.za\/\">Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"stream-item stream-item-below-post-content\">\n<div class='tenancy_slot tenancy_slot_1 jannah_ad' style='display: none;' data-query-id='fc18a52669efe17b51986568e0b167fc'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five Bears Rugby League Club players were recently selected to travel to Australia to join the South African Rugby League (SARL) national team, The Rhinos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1848,"featured_media":187874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Leigh 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