Springbok Wikus van Heerden could return to the Vodacom Blue Bulls before the Absa Currie Cup starts to rejoin his former team.
www.sport24.com
After the return of Gary Botha from Harlequins late last year, Van Heerden could become the second former Bulls to return to his roots after he announced he was leaving Saracens at the end of the current English season.
Van Heerden was in Pretoria over the past week and was seen at Loftus Versfeld, prompting talk of a return to the Vodacom Super 14 and Absa Currie Cup champions.
While the flanker was also linked with the Lions during his visit, chief executive Manie Reyneke told SuperSport.com that there was no contact between Van Heerden and the Ellis Park franchise.
Van Heerden played an intergral part in Saracens’ victory over the Springboks in November but is apparently keen to try and win a spot in the World Cup squad ahead of next year’s tournament.
Saracens said in a statement on their website that they had decided to allow Van Heerden to leave the club at the end of the current season.
“Wikus wishes to return to South Africa for the sake of his family, and we accept his wishes. He is a formidable loose forward who has represented the club with distinction over the past couple of seasons,” Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter said.
Van Heerden said that he would give his all for the club in his remaining games there.
“This is purely a personal decision. From a rugby point of view I have never been happier at any stage of my career. Saracens is now a fantastically well-run club with a very bright future, and I wish I was able to stay and be a part of that future. For the next five months, I am 100% focused on ensuring we finish this special season with at least one trophy.”
The Bulls were unavailable for comment.
interesting. I would have thought that WC rush back would only start next year.
Good for the Bulls I guess.
it is rumoured that Plum has applied for the Hurricanes coaching job!!!! Huh?
@quota (Comment 2) : not really a secret or a surprise, is it?
@robdylan (Comment 3) : i think it is a bit of a surprise – I was under impression that Plum was nicely settled in SA.
@rekinek (Comment 4) : See the latest article. War1 actually predicted this one some time ago… let me see if I can find the article
Welcome Return of Captain Courageous
Johannesburg, 18 January 2010… The Golden Lions Rugby Union announced
this morning that Wikus van Heerden, former Lions captain, has signed
with the Lions from 1 July 2010 – 31 October 2012.
Van Heerden, or “Captain Courageous”, as he was commonly referred to,
left the Golden Lions Rugby Union at the end of the 2006 Absa Currie Cup
competition to join the Vodacom Bulls, and thereafter moved to Saracens.
He will remain at Saracens until the end of their season on the 30 June
2010 before moving back to Johannesburg.
Van Heerden commented this morning that he is very excited about
returning to the Lions. “Since my time at the Lions I have grown as a
player and have gathered much experience at both the Bulls and Saracens.
I am hoping to utilize this experience and make an impact when I join
the Lions later this year”.
The GLRU are very excited about signing Van Heerden who has spent most
of his formative rugby career with the Johannesburg based team.
“It’s always good to sign a new player, but when it’s a former star
player returning, it makes it a little more special. Wikus returning is
exciting, and we see this as just one more step in the right direction
for the GLRU”, CEO Manie Reyneke said.
Of the various unions in South Africa, why the Lions? Van Heerden said,
“The Lions has always been a very special place to me. I spent nine (9)
years at the Lions before moving over to the Bulls. At that stage I
needed a change. With all the changes at the Lions now and with the new
people appointed, this is an exciting and ideal opportunity for me to
make the most of what is left of my rugby career. And who knows, maybe I
can be a part of a winning Super 14 or Currie Cup team while at the
Lions”.
Van Heerden will join the Lions ahead of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup, where
he is expected to be a regular in the starting 15.
@monster (Comment 6) :
And yet he only ever won anything with the Bulls.
The Lions supporters must be ‘in hulle noppies’
@wpw (Comment 8) : WE ARE WES WE ARE!! Dick and Wikus things are on the up!!
@Whindy (Comment 9) :
Hey there Whindy!! Long time no blog hey??
All the best to you and yours in 2010!!!
