Bloenfontein

Seven international players, including the British Lions Centre, Jamie Roberts, and nine junior international players are included in the Cardiff Blues squad that will play against the Toyota Free State on the 4th of August at Grey College.  South African born loose forward, Andries Pretorius, who is earmarked as a future Wales’ international, are also included in the touring squad. 

The match was arranged to commemorate the 200th birthday of Sir George Grey, founder of Grey College.    

Cardiff Blues squad profiles:

 Coaching Staff 

•      Phil Davies -  Blues Director of Rugby - Wales 85-96 - 46 Caps 
•      Gareth Baber -Blues Attack Coach -  Wales 7s Coach 2007/08
•      Xavier Rush - Blues Defence Coach - New Zealand All Blacks - 8 Caps

According to the tour promoter Willem Strauss, spectators can look forward to a great contest between Heineken Cup quarter finalists, Cardiff Blues and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs.  “Though  it is still early in the season for the Cardiff Blues, the boys form Wales are, like the Toyota Free State Cheetahs,  known for their for their attractive style of rugby and this promises to be a great spectacle – definitely a match not to be missed.” 

“We are all looking forward to the trip and feel very humbled and honored to be part of such a prestigious occasion” said Phil Davies, Cardiff Blues director of rugby.

"It brings great joy to us to be hosting this special game during this year when we celebrate the 200^th anniversary of our founder, Sir George Grey’ birthday,” said Mr. Johan Volsteedt, Principal of Grey College.

Mr. Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd. is excited about the prospects of the game and said:  “This is a wonderful opportunity to pay respect to Grey College for their huge contribution to rugby in the Free State and South Africa and for bringing international rugby to Bloemfontein.”

In one of the main curtain raisers of the day, Grey's first team will be in action against their peers form Kearsney College in Kwa-Zulu Natal. In other matches Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21 will play against the Border u.21 team and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.19 will take on SWD’s u19's team. Grey's u.13 team will be playing against an u.13 Invitation team. 

The program for the day is as follows:

09:15     Grey College u.13 vs. Free State Invitational Team

10:05     Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.19 vs. SWD u.19

11:35     Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21 vs. Border u.21

13:15     Grey Kollege vs. Kearsney Kollege

15:00     Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs. Cardiff Blues

Tickets for the game are R60 for adults and R20 for scholars and student are available at the ticket office at Free State Stadium as well as the Reunie Office at Grey College. 

Golf Day – 2 August

A special golf day will be hosted as part of the celebrations.  The format for the day is a BBS-competition.  Cardiff Blues- and Toyota Free State Cheetahs players will take part in the day.  The price for a four ball is R2 500.  Included is a golf shirt, halfway house, refreshments and a meal.

Gala Function – 3 Augustus

Grey College Reunie will also be hosting a gala function on Friday, 3 August at 18:30 in the Grey College Centenary Hall.  Special guests for the evening include the Cardiff Blues- and Toyota Free State Cheetah players, the IRB's Player of the Millennium, Gareth Edwards as well as Morne du Plessis. Tables are R3 500 which includes a meal.

Contact the Grey College Reunie office at 051 444 5799, oldboys@greycollege.com  or Rentia Nell at 083 308 4244 / rentia@fsrugby.co.za  for more information or reservations.

Cardiff Blues in Bloemfontein

Sewe internasionale spelers, insluitend die senter van die Britse Leeus, Jamie Roberts, en nege junior internasionale spelers is ingesluit in die Cardiff Blues se groep wat op 4 Augustus teen die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs op die 4de Augustus by Grey Kollege speel.  ‘n Suid-Afrikaner, Andries Pretorius, wat geoormerk is om vir Wallis te speel, is ook ingesluit in die toergroep. 

Die wedstryd word aangebied om die 200ste geboortedag van Sir George Grey, stigter van Grey Kollege te vier. 

Profiele van die Cardiff Blues groep:

 Afrigters   

•      Phil Davies -  Cardiff Blues Direkteur van Rugby - Wallis 85-96 - 46 wedstryde
•      Gareth Baber –Cardiff Blues Aanvalsafrigter -  Wallis 7s Afrigter 2007/08
•      Xavier Rush – Cardiff Blues Verdedigingsafrigter - New Sealand,  All Blacks - 8 wedstryde

Volgens die promotor van die toer Willem Strauss, kan ondersteuners uitsien na ‘n groot wedstryd tussen die Heineken-beker kwarteindrondte finaliste, die Cardiff Blues en die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs.  “Al is dit vroeg in die seisoen vir die Cardiff Blues, is die manne van Wallis, soos die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs, bekend vir die aanskoulike rugby wat hulle speel en dit beloof om regtig mooi rugby te wees – beslis nie ‘n wedstryd om te mis nie!”

“ Ons sien uit daarna om op hierdie toer te gaan en voel nederig en geëerd om deel te wees van hierdie spesiale geleentheid” het Phil Davies, Cardiff Blues se Direkteur van Rugby gesê. 

“Dit is vir die Grey Kollege ‘n groot vreugde om in die jaar van die 200ste geboortedag herdenking van ons stigter, Sir George Grey, so ‘n spesiale wedstryd aan te bied. “  het mnr. Johan Volsteedt, Skoolhoof van Grey Kollege gesê. 

 In die vernaamste voorwedstryd sal Grey Kollege se eerste span in aksie wees teen hul eweknie Kearsney Kollege van KwaZulu Natal.  In ander voorwedstryde speel die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs o.21 teen Grens se o.21 span en die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs o.19 teen SWD se o.19 span.  Grey Kollege se o.13 span sal ook met ‘n o.13 Uitnodigingspan kragte meet.

Die program vir die dag lyk soos volg:

09:15     Grey Kollege o.13 vs. Vrystaat Uitnodigingspan

10:05     Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs o.19 vs. SWD o.19

11:35     Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs o.21 vs. Grens o.21

13:15     Grey Kollege vs. Kearsney Kollege

15:00     Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs vs Cardiff Blues

 Kaartjies vir die wedstryd beloop R60 vir volwassenes en R20 vir skoliere en studente en is beskikbaar by die kaartjiekantoor in Vrystaat Stadion asook by Grey Kollege se Reunie kantoor.

Gholfdag – 2 Augustus

As deel van die feesvieringe word daar op Donderdag, 2 Augustus ‘n groot gholfdag aangebied.  Die formaat van die dag is ‘n BBS-kompetisie en verskeie van die Cardiff Blues en Toyota Vrystaat Cheetah spelers sal deelneem.   4 Balle is te koop teen R2 500 elk wat ‘n gholfhemp, halfweghuis, verversings en ‘n ete insluit. 

Gala Funksie – 3 Augustus

Grey Kollege Reunie bied ‘n Gala funksie aan op Vrydag, 3 Augustus om 18:30  in die Grey Kollege Eeufees Saal.  Spesiale gaste vir die aand is die Cardiff Blues- en Toyota Vrystaat Cheetah spelers asook die IRB se Speler van die Millenium, Gareth Edwards en Morne du Plessis.  Tafels is te koop teen R3 500.00 per tafel wat ‘n ete insluit.