preseason Super rugby news
Ok folks seeing as its a bit slow on the news front i thought id try consolidate all the news from around the place, rumours/ fact it doesnt matter we need something to read!!
Kockott joins Lions for 2011
Sharks scrum half and kicker Rory Kockott has joined the Lions for the 2011 Super 15 Rugby season.
The move is a surprising one as Kockott will have to battle for his starting place with Emerging Springbok Jano Vermaak.
Kockott says that he was impressed with the way the Lions improved through the Currie Cup."Negotiations started a few weeks back, but I officially signed the beginning of this week," the 24-year-old told iAfrica.
http://superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=28162
James set to return to Super rugby
Butch "no-arms" James broke back into the Springbok squad last season but was injured playing for them in the TriNations.
Now that he is back in the fold for South Africa he stands a chance of playing in the Rugby world cup next year.
The Golden Lions Rugby Unions tried to buy James out of his Bath contract earlier this month but they failed in their bid as Bath and James wanted him to finish the season at The Rec.
http://superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=28211
Crusaders set to honour west coast miners
The Crusaders will play their first home game at AMI Stadium in round three wearing a special edition red and white jersey commemarative jersey for West Coast rugby.
The Crusaders play their first home match in round three against the Waratahs on March the 4th and the 22 jerseys will be signed by the player who wore it in the match and auctioned on website Trade Me for the Pike River Mine mayoral fund.
http://superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=28142
Broussow on target for super return
The Springboks and Cheetahs openside emerged as a dynamic fetcher during the 2009 Lions series given his ability to pinch ball at the breakdown, but suffered a knee injury midway through this year’s Super 14 which saw him miss the 2010 international season.
But it appears Brussow’s road to recovery might be finally over.
He has already begun training and should be ready to hit the road running at the start of next year’s Super 15.
http://www.rugbynews.co.nz/news/inde...ticle-full.tpl
any more? just add as you come by it :D
Pretorius finds himself on Gumede’s wish list
Golden Lions Rugby Union equity partner Robert Gumede approaches to former Springbok and Lions flyhalf Andre Pretorius.
ZEENA ISAACS
Published: 2011/01/04 08:09:59 AM
WHILE most domestic rugby union bosses took a break over the festive season after a jam-packed season, Golden Lions Rugby Union equity partner Robert Gumede continued his player shopping spree with an approach to former Springbok and Lions flyhalf Andre Pretorius.
Moves to lure Pretorius from the Sharks — where he assumed the role of back-up flyhalf during last year’s Currie Cup — back to Johannesburg followed attempts by the union to recruit Springbok and Bath flyhalf Butch James, who hopes to secure an early release from his contract later this year.
But while Pretorius — who began his professional career as a junior at the Lions in 1998 — boasts vast experience at provincial and international level and offers the added bonus of having worked under new Lions Super Rugby coach John Mitchell in the build-up to last year’s Super 14 at the Western Force, the player’s injury record is a concern.
Pretorius was forced to travel to Germany for homeopathic treatment before the 2007 Rugby World Cup following a stubborn hamstring and buttock injury and missed the entire 2008 season after tearing ligaments in his foot.
He then opted to move to the Western Force at the end of a fair 2009 season, but tore his hamstring in a preseason training session, which ruled him out of the series.
That said, however, the player made it through the Sharks’ successful Currie Cup season last year unscathed and was handed a minute or two off the bench in the final, in which his team smashed Western Province 30-10 to take the trophy.
Golden Lions Rugby Union president Kevin de Klerk was still on leave yesterday and could not comment on moves to sign Pretorius , saying only: "I have not yet been to the office, so I can’t say much yet. Once I have touched base with Robert and the other decision makers, I will be in a better position to comment."
The Sharks’ commercial manager, Rudolf Straeuli, and CEO Brian van Zyl were not available for comment.
However, should Pretorius join the Lions in the next few weeks, he will join an impressive list of new recruits, including Springbok hooker Bandise Maku, talented wing Lionel Mapoe, prop Pat Cilliers, flank Michael Rhodes and nippy scrumhalf Rory Kockott — four of whom come from the Sharks.
There could also be a looming arbitration battle between the Lions and Sharks over the services of Bok prop Tendai Mtawarira, as the player signed a three-year contract extension with the Sharks and is said to have subsequently signed a lucrative contract with the Lions.
Meanwhile, the Blue Bulls Rugby Union could lose one of their top junior coaches, Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup under-21 coach Nico Serfontein, to the big-spending Lions.
Blue Bulls Rugby Union CEO Barend van Graan confirmed yesterday that Serfontein, who guided the Vodacom Cup team to two titles in 2008 and last year, and to the final in 2009, had requested an early release from his contract to take up a position at the Lions which would involve developing new structures to improve development and transformation — a promise Gumede made after being unveiled as one of the Lions’ equity partners last year.
Van Graan admitted that they had yet to decide if they would grant Serfontein’s request.
He was, however, cagey about the details of Serfontein’s contract and refused to reveal when he had asked to be released.
"Nico has asked to be released from his contract, but I don’t have an answer yet," said Van Graan.
"We will probably make a decision later in the week. But I can’t say more than that at this point."
http://www.businessday.co.za/article...aspx?id=130739