Orlando Pirates’ Ouaddou reveals he doesn’t choose who to sign

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has admitted that he doesn’t choose the players the club needs to sign.

Ouaddou joined the Sea Robbers in a surprise move at the start of last season, and while he faced early criticism, he proved to be a good coach.

He guided Pirates to their first domestic treble in 14 years; emulating Ruud Krool who achieved that feat with the club in 2011. iwanktv.club

Now, Pirates are renowned for making wholesale changes to their playing squad every single season, and this has continued even under Ouaddou.

The lanky mentor has admitted that the club has a scouting department with a lot of data on players and coaches that need to be recruited.

Ouaddou feels the fact that he doesn’t have a say in the transfer dealings of the club makes his job easier as a coach.

Also read|MTN8: Orlando Pirates begin title defence at home, last lost in 2023

ABDESLAM OUADDOU DOESN’T CHOOSE WHO TO BRING TO ORLANDO PIRATES

“The club is ninety years old and has an organisation on a par with the biggest European clubs, with one distinctive feature: the manager does not select the players [for transfer],” said Ouaddou to L’Équipe.

“The club has a highly developed scouting department with a lot of data. It adopts a playing philosophy and, consequently, selects players and a manager suited to that style of play.

“The players are the club’s choices, not the manager’s which makes things easier. I realised that it was much easier to get the magic to work,” added Ouaddou.

Also read: Kaizer Chiefs show L’vovo some love as he visits Naturena!

IS THIS HOW ALL PSL TEAMS SHOULD WORK?

Let us know in the comment section below…

Head coach Dave Rennie says the All Blacks on Friday can expect a fired-up Stormers side packed with quality players out to prove a point to Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium, Rennie acknowledged the extra motivation on offer for those in the Stormers camp with Bok aspirations.

“Absolutely,” Rennie said. “Rassie has shown that he’s prepared to take a punt on good young players coming through, and he’s used an enormous amount of players already this year.”

ALSO: All Blacks sweat on injured skipper

Director of rugby John Dobson has named 11 URC champions in the Stormers match 23, including Evan Roos and Ntuthuko Mchunu, both released by Erasmus for the fixture.

“I would imagine that everyone is excited to perform well and apply pressure or get their name in the hat,” Rennie added. “I’m sure it’s a motivating factor for them.”

He was quick to dismiss any notion that the four club matches on tour are a warm-up before the four-Test series kicks off.

“There’s no shortage of talent and depth in this country. The old days of playing a French Barbarians or a South African XV to soften you up heading into a series have changed.

TEAM: Barrett back for All Blacks’ tour opener

“We’re well aware of the quality of the side that we’ll play, and we’ll give them that respect,” the Kiwi said. “We’ve had a decent look at all three sides and because of a short turnaround in games, we’ve looked for common ground… areas that we expect the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls to try and stress us.

“We know the Stormers will kick a lot and apply pressure through that. They’ve got absolute lightning wheels all over the park, so we’re going to have to deal with that.

“But it does create opportunities for us; the ball will be kicked to us and if we can deal with that, then we’ll get some opportunities. Hopefully the weather plays its part.”

ICYMI: Rassie unloads on media

Rennie, who kick-started his tenure with three successive wins in the Nations Championship, outlined what he wants from his side on Friday.

“We’ve had a little bit more time together and that’s been good, but there’s some new combinations,” he said.

“We’re going to play against a side that is very competitive in the URC, and who will be excited about the potential of an international scalp, so that makes them dangerous.

“We’ve got a Test match only around the corner and we know we’ll need to be better against the Springboks than we were in the previous three Tests.”

Photo: @THESTORMERS/X

The post Rennie: Stormers will want our scalps appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Nike and SA Rugby have unveiled a specially commissioned Springboks jersey for the four-Test Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour against the All Blacks.

The Springboks will wear the jersey for the first time when they face New Zealand at 10bet Ellis Park on 22 August 2026.

The match will begin the first Test series between the two rugby nations in 30 years.

National anthem forms part of the design

The jersey features a tone-on-tone graphic containing the lyrics of South Africa’s national anthem, ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika’.

The lyrics appear across the chest in the shape of the South African flag.

Words from all five languages used in the anthem, Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Afrikaans and English, form part of the graphic.

The design represents the country’s different voices, histories and communities while recognising the team’s connection with South Africans.

Springbok branding and World Cup details

The jersey carries an embroidered Springbok crest, the South African Rugby emblem and a gold Nike Swoosh.

FNB branding appears on the front, with Pick n Pay displayed across the back.

The gold collar includes the words “Forever Green Forever Gold” and four stars representing the Springboks’ World Cup victories.

The jersey will be worn only during the four Tests forming part of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.

Nike FIT ADV used in new jersey

Nike developed the jersey using its athlete-focused design process.

It features Nike FIT ADV material and a lightweight construction designed for speed, movement and breathability.

The fit was developed for the physical demands of modern rugby and tested through Nike’s performance testing process.

SA Rugby welcomes special design

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said the jersey reflects the team’s motivation when representing South Africa.

“This truly is a Tour like no other and so is this jersey,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.

“Nike have outdone themselves in developing a design that speaks directly and honestly to the motivation of the team and management – they play for the people of South Africa and wear their hearts on their sleeve; now they will wear the words of the anthem on their chests.”

Where to buy the new Springboks jersey

The jersey goes on sale on Thursday, 6 August 2026, at three price points.

It will be available through:

• Nike stores
• Nike.com
• The SA Rugby Official Online Shop
• Springbok retail stores in Sandton, Menlyn Park and Canal Walk
• Solly M Sports
• Sportsmans Warehouse
• Other sports retailers

Read Inbound SA online

The post Springboks unveil special Nike jersey for All Blacks Test series appeared first on InBound South Africa.

Beauden Barrett will start at flyhalf for the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour opener against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.

The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year headlines a much-changed side named by coach Dave Rennie.

Only lock Patrick Tuipulotu and fullback Josh Moorby retain their places from the team that beat Ireland last month, with Tuipulotu captaining the side in the absence of regular skipper Ardie Savea, who remains in New Zealand on a managed break, while tour captain Codie Taylor misses out with a calf injury.

Barrett, who did not feature during the All Blacks’ three-Test Nations Championship campaign in July, has been handed the No 10 jersey as he looks to force his way into contention for the opening Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on 22 August.

ALSO: New Springbok jersey revealed

The starting XV also includes the return of lock Fabian Holland, whose July Test campaign was derailed by a shoulder injury, while winger Rieko Ioane earns his first start since returning from a sabbatical at Leinster.

There are also two potential debutants on the bench, tighthead prop Siale Lauaki and flyhalf Josh Jacomb.

ALL BLACKS – 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower.
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke.

STORMERS TEAM: Yaqeen unleashed on All Blacks

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Barrett back for All Blacks’ tour opener appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

L’AS Monaco sécurise l’avenir de Pape Cabral. Le club de la Principauté a annoncé ce mercredi la prolongation du contrat de son jeune milieu de terrain, désormais engagé jusqu’en juin 2031.

À seulement 19 ans, le Franco-Sénégalais poursuit son ascension sous les couleurs monégasques. Intégré progressivement au groupe professionnel la saison passée, il a disputé six rencontres toutes compétitions confondues et a découvert la Ligue des champions, notamment lors des affiches face à Manchester City et Bodø/Glimt.

Arrivé en 2022 en provenance de Mainvilliers pour intégrer l’Academy, Pape Cabral a convaincu les dirigeants monégasques de miser sur lui à long terme. Actuellement en pleine préparation estivale avec l’équipe première, le jeune milieu a participé aux trois premiers matches amicaux dirigés par Filipe Luís, confirmant la confiance que lui accorde le staff technique.

Par cette prolongation, l’AS Monaco réaffirme sa volonté de s’appuyer sur les talents issus de son centre de formation et d’accompagner le développement de l’un des joueurs les plus prometteurs de sa nouvelle génération.

The post Pape Cabral prolonge avec l’AS Monaco jusqu’en 2031 appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.