By Tiso Black Star Group DIGITAL
For South Africa’s two major Super Rugby strugglers‚ the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings‚ life just gets harder as their participation in the tournament comes to an end.
In Bloemfontein the Cheetahs began the week with the news that current SA Rugby Player of the Year Lood de Jager wants out. And yesterday the Bulls confirmed he would join them in November on a one-year contract.
“This is great news for us‚ not only because Lood is one of the best locks in the world‚ but also the fact that he sees the Bulls as a team that will enhance his career and ambitions‚” said Bulls high performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.
“This is a compliment to what we are trying to achieve and a massive boost to our vision to build something special again in Pretoria.”
De Jager said he was keen to join the Bulls‚ but still has unfinished business in Bloemfontein.
“I am pretty excited about my future with the Bulls and what they want to achieve in future. That said‚ I am still committed to the Cheetahs till the end of the season and will give my all in playing for them.
“They have been instrumental in the way my career developed and I want to thank them in the best way possible — by giving my all every time I take to the field for the Cheetahs.”
De Jager is currently injured and will miss the last fortnight of the Super Rugby season.
De Jager suffered a calf injury during the first Test against Ireland and missed the remainder of the series.
But he expects to be back in time for the Rugby Championships‚ which start on August 20.
“I’m still out of action for about three weeks‚” De Jager confirmed to Tiso Black Star Group Digital in a text message.
The Kings‚ who suffered an 11th defeat last weekend when losing 48-18 to the Highlanders‚ will go into Friday’s clash against the Lions without star flank CJ Velleman.
A knee injury has ruled Velleman out of the game and possibly their final encounter against the Stormers as well.
The Kings have had little to cheer in 2016‚ but Velleman’s performances were one of the bright spots of their campaign.
A finger injury took Velleman out of action shortly before the June internationals‚ robbing him of a chance to play for SA ‘A’ against the England Saxons. A call-up to that squad would have been likely.
“CJ took a knock to the upper quad‚ but his knee is also very swollen‚” coach Deon Davids said.
The Sharks will go into their crucial match against the Cheetahs without fullback Willie le Roux who has a shoulder injury while flyhalf Pat Lambie is also unlikely to play.
Lambie has yet to play since he was felled by Ireland flank CJ Stander in the first Test in Cape Town nearly a month ago.
The Bok flyhalf has not passed strict concussion protocols and he will in all likelihood be given another week to recover. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
SA Rugby Player of the Year Lood de Jager to join the Bulls
For South Africa’s two major Super Rugby strugglers‚ the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings‚ life just gets harder as their participation in the tournament comes to an end.
In Bloemfontein the Cheetahs began the week with the news that current SA Rugby Player of the Year Lood de Jager wants out. And yesterday the Bulls confirmed he would join them in November on a one-year contract.
“This is great news for us‚ not only because Lood is one of the best locks in the world‚ but also the fact that he sees the Bulls as a team that will enhance his career and ambitions‚” said Bulls high performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.
“This is a compliment to what we are trying to achieve and a massive boost to our vision to build something special again in Pretoria.”
De Jager said he was keen to join the Bulls‚ but still has unfinished business in Bloemfontein.
“I am pretty excited about my future with the Bulls and what they want to achieve in future. That said‚ I am still committed to the Cheetahs till the end of the season and will give my all in playing for them.
“They have been instrumental in the way my career developed and I want to thank them in the best way possible — by giving my all every time I take to the field for the Cheetahs.”
De Jager is currently injured and will miss the last fortnight of the Super Rugby season.
De Jager suffered a calf injury during the first Test against Ireland and missed the remainder of the series.
But he expects to be back in time for the Rugby Championships‚ which start on August 20.
“I’m still out of action for about three weeks‚” De Jager confirmed to Tiso Black Star Group Digital in a text message.
The Kings‚ who suffered an 11th defeat last weekend when losing 48-18 to the Highlanders‚ will go into Friday’s clash against the Lions without star flank CJ Velleman.
A knee injury has ruled Velleman out of the game and possibly their final encounter against the Stormers as well.
The Kings have had little to cheer in 2016‚ but Velleman’s performances were one of the bright spots of their campaign.
A finger injury took Velleman out of action shortly before the June internationals‚ robbing him of a chance to play for SA ‘A’ against the England Saxons. A call-up to that squad would have been likely.
“CJ took a knock to the upper quad‚ but his knee is also very swollen‚” coach Deon Davids said.
The Sharks will go into their crucial match against the Cheetahs without fullback Willie le Roux who has a shoulder injury while flyhalf Pat Lambie is also unlikely to play.
Lambie has yet to play since he was felled by Ireland flank CJ Stander in the first Test in Cape Town nearly a month ago.
The Bok flyhalf has not passed strict concussion protocols and he will in all likelihood be given another week to recover. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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