Springbok prop CJ van der Linde is still undecided about accepting offers from overseas clubs who want him to play in Europe at the end of the year.
Pieter Jordaan writes in Volksblad that Irish club Leinster, where former Springbok Ollie le Roux has been playing this year, is one of those that have made Van der Linde an offer.
However, the big prop has not made up his mind.
Leinster’s coach, Michael Cheika, is still awaiting confirmation from the Irish Rugby Union that yet another Springbok prop, BJ Botha, will be able to join the club.
The Belfast Telegraph has also reported that Stormers loose forward Robbie Diack may turn out for Leinster soon.
Van der Linde and lock forward Rory Duncan are among the Cheetahs who may be considering a move abroad.
And Western Province officials are said to be keen to sign on young Free State No 8 Duanne Vermeulen.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drostké will be particularly eager to retain the services of young players such as Vermeulen while the Free Staters try to rebuild their side after losing several stars last year.
Hennie Brandt reports from Johannesburg that Lions and Springbok loose forward Joe van Niekerk will also take his time before he makes any decisions about his career.
First prize for Big Joe will be to get back into the Springbok team and to stay there. But if he fails, he may look at possibilities abroad.
Van Niekerk, who returned to the Lions this season after an unproductive time in the Western Cape, has been in outstanding form in the Super 14 competition.
His performances earned him a place in Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’s national training squad.
Van Niekerk, who has played in 46 Test matches, has not been part of a Springbok team since 2006.
His mother Cathy, who is also his agent, said on Tuesday Van Niekerk had not made any decision regarding his future.
Lions coach Eugene Eloff convinced Van Niekerk to play Super 14 rugby for the Lions this season after the player had been plagued by injuries.
The two of them come a long way, because Eloff also coached Van Niekerk when he was still a member of the Lions’ Under-20 team.
Van Niekerk’s contract with the Lions runs to the end of October.
Manie Reyneke, chief executive of the Lions and the Golden Lions Rugby Union, said on Tuesday he and Eloff had spoken to Van Niekerk about extending his contract to the end of 2009.
“Joe will be away for two weeks. There should be finality when he returns,” Reyneke said.
“I am confident that he will stay with us. He is playing good rugby again.”
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Man there are enough stories, about enough players, going to enough places.
At this rate some players will be playing for 3 clubs and some teams will have 60 players 🙄
Joe has more test caps than super14 caps
No WAY!!!!!!!!!!! Are you serious? 😯
Although Mossie could be heading that way as well I suppose.
I are
At least thats what i heard on Saturday.I havent comfirmed it myself
38 Bok Caps
And the Lions website feels it isn’t important enough to display trivial stats like that. 😕
Walter seems to be jacked up enough to furnish that info though.
Jaque Fourie
Position : Centre
Born: 4 March 1983
1.88m and 95kg
Transvaal caps : 29
Transvaal scoring : 16 tries and 80 points
Transvaal debut : 2002
Super 14 caps : 15 – Lions, 59 – Total
Test matches : 37
Springbok scoring : 20 tries and 100 points
Club : RAU
School : Monument
Seems he DOESN’T have more test Caps than S14 caps. 😯
According to SArugby
Full Name Johann Christiaan (Joe)
Surname van Niekerk
Height 193cm
Weight 105kg
Birth Date 14 May 1980
Birth City Port Elizabeth
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film Training Day
Favourite Music Justin Timberlake
Favourite Food Fillet Steak
Secondary School King Edward
Tertiary Education RAU
Springbok Career
Debut New Zealand 2001
Caps 46
Joe van Niekerk
Position : Loose Forward
Born: 14 May 1980
1.93m and 108kg
Transvaal caps : 16
Transvaal scoring : 6 tries and 30 points
Transvaal debut : 2001
Super 14 caps : 12 – Lions, 44 – Total
Test matches – 46
he DOES have more.
Maybe Walter can tell us how up to date his figures are, coz Joe is very close.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
Which JOE are you talkin about???
Cos WALTER seems to think:
Joe van Niekerk
Position : Loose Forward
Born: 14 May 1980
1.93m and 108kg
Transvaal caps : 16
Transvaal scoring : 6 tries and 30 points
Transvaal debut : 2001
Super 14 caps : 12 – Lions, 44 – Total
Club : N/A
School : N/A
“Tranvaal”?
Ok…enough stats for the morning…I’m going to cry on the thread about BJ being out…
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 11) :
That was Fourie I was talking about at that stage. The “Position : Centre” bit should been a give-away 😉 I have added Fourie’s name now to avoid any further confusion. 😉
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 12) :
Walter is a die hard “transvaal” fan, Lions are just a by product. 😉
🙄
Aha… those stats are from his site… get it now….
@PJLD (Comment 2) :
Guys, sorry I missed the chat…the stats on my page is up to date so Joe is on 44 S14 caps and 46 Test Caps, so post 2 was accurate.
I added a page to my website that allows the user to rate the performance of the Lions players in our last match, go have a look at
http://www.transvaal.co.za/rateplayers20080517.asp
That’s a good idea… I might have to build something like that for the Currie Cup
Hi Walter.
You and Saru differ on J Fourie’s test caps. Is there a test somewhere that was a cap but not a test cap?
KSA – are you still here?
Was waiting for the football to start. I must say it is very boring after the rugby.
Okay – talking to myself – back tomorrow.
I checked my database, Jaque Fourie has got 38 test caps, so I will update his stats on my site… 😳