Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has announced the 38-man Super Rugby pre-season training squad that will train in Hermanus on Monday, 13 January.

Springboks Tiaan Liebenberg, Frans Malherbe, Pat Cilliers, Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen, Jean de Villiers, Jaco Taute, Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon are all part of the group, which also includes new signing lock Manuel Carizza and utility back Scott van Breda, who is on loan from the Kings.

‘We tested all the players on Tuesday and I was very happy with the condition of the players during their maintenance phase of conditioning’ said Coetzee. ‘The emphasis this week has been 50-50 in terms of conditioning and technical work, but next week in camp our focus will change in favour of 70% technical/rugby work and 30% conditioning.

‘We have about 14 sessions from now until our first pre-season match against the Bulls [on 1 February]. We know where we want to be come 1 February and our process is already beginning to take shape.’

The Stormers will play their first pre-season match against the Bulls in Polokwane, followed by clashes against the Kings (7 February) and Boland (15 February).

They will play their first fixture of the 2014 Super Rugby season against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 February.

Stormers pre-season Super Rugby squad (38) – Gio Aplon, Ruan Botha, Schalk Burger, Manuel Carizza, Nizaam Carr, Demetri Catrakilis, Pat Cilliers, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Ryno Eksteen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie, Tazz Fuzani, Nic Groom, Brok Harris, Pat Howard, Cheslin Kolbe, Oli Kebble, Steven Kitshoff, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Tiaan Liebenberg, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, De Kock Steenkamp, Jaco Taute, Gary van Aswegen, Scott van Breda, Michael van der Spuy, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, Duane Vermeulen.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images