Lions Player Loss Updates
September 13, 2012 in Uncategorized
Latest: 19 Year Lions old utility forward Etienne Oosthuizen has signed a two year contract with the Brumbies, according to Die Beeld. Oosthuizen is one of the Lions top young locks and was named Lions u/19 Player of the Year and he played Super Rugby, Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup for the Lions. Although he was in the u/20 Boks practice squad this year he didn’t make the team for the JRWC and he can still qualify to play for Australia in three years.
Having already lost Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls) and Ruan Botha (WP), both were in the u/20 Bok team, the loss of a third top junior lock/flank who have already experienced senior rugby will seriously affect the Lions lock depth next year and the year after.
Edit: According to Keo this was confirmed by Kevin de Klerk:
‘Jake made the approach via the player’s agent and the player has seen it as a good career opportunity,’ De Klerk told this site. ‘We wish him everything for the best.’
Beeld also reports that WP is looking to recruit Michael Rhodes as well as Pat Cilliers while it is no secret that they are after Elton Jantjies.
Losses so far:
12 Jul 2012: Grant Hattingh – Bulls (although he was only on a short term contract till the end of Super Rugby)
14 Aug 2012: Rudy Paige – Bulls
24 Aug 2012: Jacobie Adriaanse – Llanelli Scarletts (Wales)
25 Aug 2012: Caylib Oosthuizen – Cheetahs
27 Aug 2012: Paul Willemse – Bulls
28 Aug 2012: Ruan Botha – WP
11 Sept 2012: Josh Strauss – Glasgow Warriors (Scotland)
14 Sept 2012: Etienne Oosthuizen
Rumours & rumours of rumours:
Elton Jantjies – WP/Sharks (It’s an open secret that WP wants him but he has also been linked to the Bulls)
Jaco Taute – Bulls or Sharks
Derick Minnie – Sharks
Bandise Maku – Kings or WP
Callie Visagie – Kings or WP
Warren Whiteley – Kings
Butch James – Sharks
Pat Cilliers – WP
Alwyn Hollenbach – Sharks
Franco van der Merwe – Cheetahs
Michael Rhodes – WP
A source (but not the only one): http://www.sudrugby.com/transferts/
powa said on September 14, 2012
Best bet for Jantjies is WP
GEN DE LA REY said on September 14, 2012
Jip it is more sad to see it happening than I imagined it would be.
I know it is a profesional era and players and teams must look out for themselfs.
The Lions losing all their top players was always on the cards but them losing so many youngsters is sad.
On the flipside the Kings are raking in tallent all over SA with A Struass, Sykes and Catrakilis all ready signed and Cheeky saying there is more to come.
That promo/releg matches against the Lions looks to be more and more difficult for the Lions to win.
(i know it would not necessarily be the Kings but they are odds on)
mickeynelster said on September 14, 2012
I see now that the Sharks are also interrested
Baylion said on September 14, 2012
Yes, the most recent rumours around Jantjies is that it’s the Sharks vs WP for his services with WP wanting to buy out his contract and the Sharks prepared for him to return to the Lions for the play-of match and CC next year
Baylion said on September 14, 2012
As I said in my post Lions Player Contracts, Loans, Releases & Other Issues the Lions will find it difficult to refuse to release players if they have nothing better to offer them and losing juniors will impact heavily on the future