The Cheetahs welcome backline star Philip Burger back into their squad ahead of for the new season, after the exciting utility back spent the past two years in France.
Burger will offer a much needed boost the Cheetahs options at wing in the Super 15, after Lionel Mapoe’s departure to the Lions and Bjorn Basson signing with the Bulls. The Cheetahs woes on the wing have been added to by the series of injuries sustained by Springbok flyer Jongi Nokwe, leaving the Bloemfontein side depleted out wide. Former Springbok Sevens star, Burger, is a proven try scoring hero for the Cheetahs after he topped the try scoring charts in the 2006 Currie Cup.
The 30-year-old has been playing for Top 14 club Perpignan in France, but has found his opportunities limited amongst some of France’s top backline stars, with his smaller stature counting against him with the coaches often favouring larger players.
Burger will be competing for a place in the Cheetahs team with other Sevens Springboks MJ Mentz, Rayno Benjamin, Fabian Juries, Philip Snyman and Riaan Smit, who will all be aiming to take up the vacant wing berths in the side.
Arrogant little git,gotta love him
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) :
I wonder if he will get a place in the starting team?
I really like this guy.
Can’t believe he is 30 already!!
@wpw (Comment 3) :
I couldn’t believe it either.. He has a few more years in him though..
LIKE him?? He has a bicycle face, everytime you see it you wanna “trap” it! Ughhh!! I think he also goes on my “least like player” list, running a close second to JP Nel! UGHHHHHHH!!!!!
@Ice-Cool CC Champ 2010 (Comment 5) : Naa, he`s not in the league of Van Den Hoover in the bicycle face race . . .
Riaan smit, has got talent watch this boy, stinky is not the player of old-a bad signing I think…why does no union look at a player like norman nelson of EP, he is really a mature signing…he is a good player and the cheetahs need some finishers he also plays wing and 13 as a spesialist…snyman is to slow of the mark, he is a good centre but is playing on the wing…but why larry???…no logic in OFS …only logic is realizing that joining the sharks is logicle!!!running on to the field with 4 centres in the backline is hawies and naka logic….
@BoerSeun (Comment 7) : Agreed!
Watched him play for the Kings. Very enthusiastic little guy.
Chase up well, applies pressure, all the pace you might need.
Size might be a bit of a problem I think.
Sharks have an embarrasment of riches on the wing though so not really worth it. Can he really play 13?
Backline Star?????
It sounds like his agent negotiated that phrase into his contract. Why else would a NH hemisphere reject be called a Star?
Next thing you know we’ll hear that he returned to SA to improve his chances of making the RWC squad.
He must have the same agent as the best SA lock Rob Linde?
“putting a positive spin on things 101″ must be a required course credit to get you agent license? 2nd only to “lying with a straight face 101″