Bok hooker Hanyani “Shimmie” Shimange has been sent to the Lions on a trial basis, along with lock George Earl. Both players, although contracted to Western Province, look unlikely to see any Super 14 gametime with the Stormer in 2010.
Shimange, who has spent time with the Sharks and Cheetahs already in his career, is probably best remembered for an ill-fated Bok stint in 2004 and 2005 which saw him sit on the Bench behind John Smit for two full season, accumulating a sum total of around 14 minutes game time as Jake White refused to ever pull his skipper off the park. Shimmie acquired the unfortunate nickname “Splinters” and has since struggled to make his mark on the domestic game.
Since joining Western Province in 2006, Shimange has seen no first-class rugby at all and will look at the Lions opportunity as a last throw of the dice. The Joburg union are desperately short at hooker, with both Etthiene Reyneke and Willie Wepener having left the team since last year’s Super 14.
Lock Earl is a youngster who was loaned to Boland for the 2008 Currie Cup. He will join a very large pool of second row recruits hoping to make the cut for the final Lions Super 14 squad.
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Does this mean neither smit or bissie will be leaving?
@war1 (Comment 1) : who knows
Ag nee, shit! Either one of Bissie or Smit would have been an excellent aquisition, but Shimange????????? Fortunately it will only be on a trail basis. Don’t know Earle, though.
@boepie (Comment 3) : Earle didn’t exactly set the world alight but he is supposed to be a talented youngster.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 4) : I also heard that he is talented, but a bit on the short side. ( 1.97, i think).
@boepie (Comment 5) : I reckon Shimmie is a better hooker than van Dyk
@robdylan (Comment 6) : i agree, wen he started his career at the sharks he looked very very promising, unfortunately for him he was behind van biljon in the pecking order, man but if he benches at the lions he needs to retire