Butch James’s return to the Sharks took a step closer to completion as the player is reportedly in Durban at present, negotiating a deal.
The Beeld reports that James is currently undergoing medical tests in Durban, and that he is a step closer to signing a deal to end his career with the team he started it with.
Rudolf Straeuli was quoted as saying that they will be using James to mentor the younger flyhalves in the kicking department, both at goal and tactical use of the boot. Straueli went further to say that he will working closely with young Fred Zeilinga, who has impressed the coaches during the Currie Cup Undeer 21 campaign.
James will bring with him a wealth of experience, something the Sharks will utilise during Super Rugby. We all know that it is an extremely long season, and depth is all important.
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Huzzah! At last they are using some of the more senior/almost retired players for their purpose. Mentoring the younger guys.
@PTAShark (Comment 1) : I hope they are using Marius Joubert in the same way to help Mjekevu, Williams and Meyer.
Such good news. We need someone to mentor our youngsters. Butch is a world cup winning flyhalf and will definetly add a lot to the sharks.
Maak seker julle check AL sy skaniere vir “wear en tear” Straeuli!
Rather get John Smit back to mentor our hookers
@Bokhoring (Comment 5) : Valid point. Or even Pieter Dixon?
@Argex (Comment 6) : I think John Smit could make a great career in coaching in any case – provided he does the hard yards. I would love the Sharks to get him involved in coaching ASAP
will zeilinga be playing seniors next year or has he got another year to go?
@Bokhoring (Comment 7) : Maybe once his stint at Saracens comes to an end? Johan Ackermann for our line-outs. Plumtree with our loose forwards. James and Joubert with flyhalf and centre. Terblanche for the outside backs. Not too bad a team
@MJ (Comment 8) :
Zeilinga matriculated 2010 – so then he would be 20 this year, and should then be available to the Under 21 team again next year.
But I have a feeling he will be involved with the Vodacom Cup team early in the year and then Currie Cup Senior squad after that.
@Argex (Comment 9) :
Add David Campese – who lives in Durban – to the mix, and our we could really have a star studded line-up of assistants..
@sharkbok (Comment 3) : yes, a lot YELLOW CARDS and citings…this guy is finished, this is for sentimental reasons.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) : That would be amazing! To have personnel like that on board. Call it our dream team
@Megatron (Comment 12) :
I agree with your overall assessment – I think the Sharks calling him a mentor indicates that he will get as much game time as Marius Joubert has been getting..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : ja it seem you lot have money to waste on salaries for Bok has-beens…
@Megatron (Comment 15) :
Somehow I think they are replacing Marius Joubert with Butch James – his contract should be up now sometime if I am not mistaken..
But yes, money that could have been spent elsewhere..
@Megatron (Comment 12) : @Megatron (Comment 15) : Let me guess….Butch turned the Kings down somewhere, sometime.
@Megatron (Comment 15) : Not a waste of money, especially when these guys are hired or signed in a playing and coaching capacity and probably not paid nearly as much as they would have been a couple of years ago.
@Megatron (Comment 15) : At least we spend it on the players….
@Argex (Comment 13) : dreaming is all thay will do. Sharks looks unbeatable in semi-finals but their performance in finals is very poor. They need someone to work with the players to perform in finals, someone like Dr. Henning Gericke.
@JD (Comment 20) : I wonder what WP did differently in their approach to the final? Their record in playoff games have also been woeful the last few years. Did they appoint a mental coach?
Butch on twitter. “Officially Black & White for next season. It’s good to be back home.”