Springbok Arno Botha headlines a group of nine Vodacom Bulls players selected by Currie Cup fans to take on Kenya at Loftus Versfeld in the inaugural Carling Champions Match on 6 November.

All-star ‘Champions Match’ announced for November

Bulls hooker Schalk Eramus received the most votes for a place in the 30-man squad which will be coached by Bulls director of rugby Jake White.

Players from all seven provincial teams campaigning in the 2021 Carling Currie Cup were eligible for selection and the squad is stacked with players from the Bulls, the dominant force in local rugby over the past few seasons.

The remainder of the squad includes six Cheetahs, five players from Western Province and four from the Sharks, while the Pumas and Griquas each contributed two players and Lions jumper PJ Steenkamp will start at lock.

The full squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday, where they will prepare for this special encounter.

Carling Champions Match squad
Props: Simphiwe Matanzima (Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks)
Hooker: Schalk Erasmus (Bulls)
Locks: Reniel Hugo (Sharks), PJ Steenkamp (Lions)
Loose forwards: Arno Botha (Bulls), Phumzile Maqondwana (Pumas), Nama Xaba (Western Province)
Scrumhalf: Keagan Johannes (Bulls)
Flyhalf: Brandon Thomson (Cheetahs)
Centres: Howard Mnisi (Cheetahs), Chris Smit (Cheetahs)
Wings: Stravino Jacobs (Bulls), Werner Kok (Sharks)
Fullback: Sibongile Novuka (Bulls)

Replacements (from):
Hooker: Chad Solomon (Western Province)
Props: Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Aranos Coetzee (Cheetahs)
Lock: Reinhardt Ludwig (Bulls)
Loose forwards: WJ Steenkamp (Bulls), Marcel Theunissen (Western Province)
Scrumhalves: Ginter Smuts (Pumas), Paul de Wet (Western Province)
Flyhalf: George Whitehead (Griquas)
Centres: Stedman Gans (Bulls), Marius Louw (Sharks)
Wings: Tian Meyer (Cheetahs), Leolin Zas (Western Province)
Fullback: Ashlon Davids (Griquas)