Eleven players from GWK Griquas have been included in the starting line-up for the Royal XV team to play the British and Irish Lions in Rustenburg on Saturday.

THE British and Irish Lions will face a team made up mainly of players from the GWK Griquas and Platinum Leopards in their opening tour match on May 30. A Royal XV side, which the Lions will face at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng, will be led by flanker Wilhelm Koch.

NAMES like Kees Lensing and Jacques Burger will mean little or nothing to the vast majority of Irish rugby fans this morning.

SPRINGBOK midfielder Jean de Villiers will stay at home when the rest of his team-mates depart on a two-match tour of Ireland and Scotland later today.

South Africa coach Jake White could back down from his threat to exclude several Springboks from the November tour if they play in the Currie Cup competition this year.

Defending Currie Cup champions the Blue Bulls face a tough assignment first up in their north-south derby against Western at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.