Players are moving all over the show, as is the norm for this time of year.
It seems the most popular departure point is Western Province, with Ross Skeate just the latest player to confirm a move to Toulon. There seem to be some serious wires crossed somewhere, though. The Toulon website lists the sideburned softie as a 21-year-old, which is definitely stretching the truth somewhat. There is also no mention of Skeate’s teammate Francois van der Merwe, who was also meant to be on his way to Toulon. The latter’s name is not in Toulon’s squad for 2008-09, but is definitely not with WP any more either. Perhaps he fell down a rabbit hole?
Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has also joined Toulon.
It seems the WP fringe players are getting frustrated with the lack of game time they’re receiving. We know that Isma-eel Dollie has packed his backs for the winelands (yet again) and was heard to mutter something about “bloody de Waal” while departing Newlands. Another flyhalf, Ricardo Croy, has been sent to SWD on loan, a sure sign that Naas Olivier cannot be far from selection to the WP matchday 22. Flying winger Zhahier Rhyland is seemingly also on his way. “Kakkerlakkie”, as he is affectionately known, will play out the rest of the season with the Valke, after being released on a loan deal.
The continued absence of Fijian herb king Sireli Naqelevuki (as well as persistent rumours linking Dylan des Fountain to France) seem to indicate that Wylie Human will find himself in the hooped number 11 jersey for the foreseeable future.
In other news, Big Joe is also off to Toulon. Not much of a thank you to the Lions team that threw him a lifeline when nobody else would touch him with a bargepole. I guess, as always, we can blame his so-called agent (and mother) Cathy for showing, once again, that her materialism and ruthlessness knows few bounds. Apparently, her latest crusade is against WP coach Alistair Coetzee for alerting Paul Delport (another of her clients) that he has been dropped, via SMS. Wake up, Cathy! It’s the 21st century and far worse news than that is regularly conveyed by text messages.
In a bit of good news, it seems that the rumours linking Duanne Vermeulen to WP are again picking up, so perhaps they might end up with a proper replacement for old, slow AJ after all. Cheetahs prop Ronnie Uys looks set to leave Bloemfontein himself, with an unnamed French club the likely recipient of his services.

“Sideburned softie” – heh-heh
@CapeShark (Comment 1) : I wonder if I’ll be sued… 😉
Nah…i think they got far worse problems to deal with over at Newlands, evidently.
@CapeShark (Comment 3) : I’m pissed about Vermeulen. We should be buying him
I heard some European Clubs are on Kallie’s spoor.
Whats up with Coetzee? Hopefully its just bad Player management and not bad coaching. I missed last weeks game, thank god.
Coetzee seems clueless.
What happens if De Waal is injured? We don’t have another 10 to replace him now that Dollie has left and please for the love of all that is HOLY, please not Naas Olivier. 👿
Well- at least the Outback can develop them fast enough for the Euro pull- teams wiFF “aRRested develop” problems now have to compete wiFf the Euro for Cheetah Exellence!
Dropping Delport after 1 game when Siegelaar hasn’t been ALL that makes no sense either.
Molly
They’ve now got Duvenage from Boland and what’s his face is coming back from injury soon…
Conrad Hoffman 🙄
@wpw (Comment 10) : Hoffman?
@wpw (Comment 10) : how can players just sommer change provinces halfway through the season? Stuffs up the Fantasy League!
and here’s another one for you. Jody Jenneker has been released by the Sharks and will be on the bench for the Valke this weekend.
Oh my word.
What the hell has become of this competition?
Seeing as you guys are running low on flanks, how about borrowing Hilton Lobberts from the Bulls??? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 15) : Are you actually on drugs? 😉
Glad Dollie is gone so I don’t have to hear the constant whingeing about how he’s not getting gametime.
If he’s really good he should have no problem shining in his new team and we can eventually put this issue to bed.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 17) : he he…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 17) : ja but now we are left with igNAASias as a backup if Vuilbaart goes down. 👿
and why the hell wont my picture change????
Vinnie
He actually played very well for Boland last year.
Now if you had coverage of the games in Mud Island you would’ve seen why we’ve been calling for his inclusion in the side. 🙄
@wpw (Comment 21) :
I couldnt care. He’s just another Brent Russell and the only time he’ll get a break is if every other flyhalf in SA is injured.
As well as he has played it was all in the Currie Cup where, surprise surprise, even de Waal played better.
He’s a bit unfortunate in that he has grown up in an era where there are one helluva lot of good flyhalves playing currently. And they are all taller than 5’5″.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 22) : So what do you think of the Ebersohn clan?
Vinnie…he is a much better bet than Naas… And like Big Fish always says, size doesnt always matter… I was told he gets that a lot after hes been with a woman…