Burger resumes DHL Stormers captaincy

Burger was the designated DHL Stormers captain last year but his 2012 campaign lasted just 14 minutes before suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Hurricanes in Round One.

DHL Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee also confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that centre Jean de Villiers would continue as the team’s vice-captain.

Coetzee said: “Now that he is fit, Schalk will resume the DHL Stormers captaincy in 2013.

“We are, however, blessed with an incredibly strong leadership base in every position. Schalk will have the Springbok captain in Jean de Villiers to lean on, an Absa Currie Cup-winning captain in Deon Fourie and I haven’t even mentioned the likes of Andries Bekker, Tiaan Liebenberg, Duane Vermeulen, Dewaldt Duvenage and Bryan Habana – all of whom are leaders in their positions.”

The squad has been in Hermanus since Monday and the coach expressed his delight at the work done so far.

“We’ve upped the rugby-specific side of things this week, but we’re also having a bit of fun and the guys have responded really well,” said Coetzee.

“We’ve still got two days to go after this, including a fun adventure race on Friday, and then we will turn our attention to next month’s warm-up matches.”

The DHL Stormers will face the Cheetahs on February 2 (in Bloemfontein) and the Boland Cavaliers on February 9 (in Wellington).