Johannesburg – Veteran English lock Simon Shaw is one of several overseas players on the shopping list of the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) as they bid to strengthen their squad for next year’s Super14 writes Pieter Jordaan for sport24
The 36-year-old toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions this year.
“We are negotiating with a number of overseas players, including Shaw,” said GLRU chief executive Manie Reyneke.
He added that the current experienced lock pairing of Nico Luus and Willem Stoltz will still be available for the Lions next year, but that they have to bolster certain positions to be able to be competitive in the Super14.
Shaw is a hard man who will be capable of stoking the Lions’ engine room.
His experience can also benefit younger players in the region.
Reyneke added that they will also be looking for a scrumhalf, flyhalf and centre.
The latter is a position that may be particularly relevant if Springbok midfielder Jaque Fourie is allowed to continue his career at Western Province.
His arbitration hearing, which started this week, has been postponed until 12 October, but Reyneke said that the GLRU are happy with the manner in which the hearing has progressed.
A glance at the Lions team down to play the Sharks in Durban on Saturday gives one an idea of the pressure under which the union’s management finds itself to bolster the side.
André Pretorius, Willie Wepener, Ethienne Reynecke, Dewald Senekal, Ernst Joubert and Anton van Zyl have all sought out greener pastures in recent months.
Injuries have also robbed the Lions of the services of Heinke van der Merwe, Gert Muller, Jano Vermaak, Louis Ludik, Alwyn Hollenbach, Dusty Noble, Earl Lewis, Henno Mentz and Derek Harwood.
That is why most experts are not giving the Lions much chance of beating the Sharks on Saturday.
However, for those players that will be in action, the Lions’ shopping list should serve as a warning.
With little playing time left in 2009, every member of the 22-man squad will be keen to show management that they are worthy of a place in the “new” set-up from 2010.
That will probably include a new Super14 coach. The post was advertised recently and an announcement is expected shortly.
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Old Lions!
Thirty Sixthhhhhhhhhhh..
Geez thats nogals getting on the old side for a player, isn’t it? I mean with aches and pains starting to set in and after a hard game nogals…I dont know how much this guy will be on the field. Maybe they should offer him a coaching job rather..
if they can get wikus van heerden, he would be a bigger signing, apparently they are also talking to gary botha
When can we expect the team announcement?
I`m guessing :
Stefan, Odwa, Murray, AD, JP, JMH, Charl, Kankow, Rhodes, Muller, Sykes, Botes, John, Bismarck, Beast ?
@war1 (Comment 3) :
Is Wikus on he’s way back?
So Botha is not a done deal for the bulls yet?
@Original Pierre (Comment 4) :
Most probs – but I reckon they might start with Keegan and perhaps Pienaar on 9 ?
Is JP fit to go??
@Original Pierre (Comment 4) : probably later this afternoon, smittie will be on the bench with jannie starting, and swannie is having a fitness test today, so he may start but im guessing ur team sonds about right, but we wait for the official announcement
@GI Ice (Comment 5) : wikus is under contract to saracens til 2010 but his family (read wife
) wants to come back to SA, Gary Botha will probably go to the Bulls, but the Lions are trying anyway
Oh, and ur team changes r probly accurate as well
@war1 (Comment 7) :
Do you know V?
@GI Ice (Comment 8) : v?
@war1 (Comment 9) :
Wikus’s wife
@GI Ice (Comment 10) : no, but I’m guessing she would want to come back,
Old and n vuilgat.
@war1 (Comment 11) :
Why would you guess that? You said he’s family “wants” to come back…what are you hiding??
@GI Ice (Comment 13) : i read it in another version of this article, those exact words
@war1 (Comment 14) :
Oh…
@war1 (Comment 14) :
Was thinking you are trying to hide truths here from me..
Rob mos asked the other day who are you NOT connected too! 
Is he not part of the Eng squad? Heineken Cup and S14 overlap too. And possible 6 Nations.
Seems unlikely.
@GI Ice (Comment 16) : yeah, but it’s more like friends of friends and that kinda stuff, i could probably get some good free state connections if i ask my sister or brother-in-law
@McLovin (Comment 17) : i think he will play only in the super 14
@war1 (Comment 18) :
You from the States?
I think I just chased sheit on..
with my SB picks…I think I went a bit over the top with the margins… 
My upset for the weekend would be a GQ win over the Bulls…
@GI Ice (Comment 20) : no, my sister is living there now,
@GI Ice (Comment 21) : that would not be upsetting for sharks supporters
@war1 (Comment 22) : she went to boarding school there and stayed for varsity, hence why she worked with jannie dup in the hospital
hang on… so they are just negotiating with him? Some other sites have made it sound like this is a done deal…
@robdylan (Comment 25) : some other sites jump to conclusions methinks
@war1 (Comment 24) :
Oh…Not far from my old home town (180kms)..
Theres a nice article about Ruan and Morne and Pdiv if you guys wanna put it up..
http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Rugby/264/281ab5c110934c31bb25957599cef9b8/30-09-2009-10-15/Steyns_boot_keeps_Pienaar_out
@war1 (Comment 14) :
I cannot find that article…
@GI Ice (Comment 28) : that site we do not speak of
@war1 (Comment 29) :
OHHHHHHHH
