32-year-old centre Rudi Keil has become the latest in a growing list of players to join the Sharks Currie Cup training squad on a trial basis. The former KES boy last played for the Sharks in 2005, before moving to the UK to play for Gloucsester and then Sale.
The commensurate team man, Keil is a popular fellow indeed and his presence is sure to keep spirits in the camp high. His achievements on the field, however, have failed to reach any great heights since representing the South African under 21 team back in 1998 – the same team that featured the likes of John Smit, Victor Matfield, Wayne Julies and Lawrence Sephaka. Keil caught the eye playing for Boland back in 2001 and was brought into the Sharks Super 12 squad the following year. Four frustrating years followed, but the fact that Keil’s tenure coincided with the darkest days of the Putt administration may have had something to do with his lack of progress.
Former Griquas and Montpellier prop Eugene van Staden is also with the side on a trial basis and we’re led to believe that neither Steve Meyer nor Andre Pretorius is currently contracted to the union either, despite being available for Currie Cup selection (well, Pretorius will be if he ever gains fitness). I guess you can’t fault the Union for wanting to cast the net a little wider, since depth increases competition for places and can only make the team stronger. Then again, as great a guy as he is, Keil is certainly no Jaque Fourie and I wonder whether having him there won’t just give John Plumtree the perfect excuse not to blood younger players such as Jean Stemmet, Piet Lindeque and Dwayne Jenner in the troublesome centre position.
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My opinion on the matter:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
😈 😆
HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE
😆 😆 😀
😯 😯
I liked him.. Was a good player.. Your last paragraph worries me though, as our youngsters will only get dishearted if a 32 year old comes in ahead of them!
they wil make a big mistake if they sign keil. he wasn’t good enough 5 years ago and what makes plum think that he will be good in 2010. play the young guns that we have. keil is to slow and won’t make any difference to our team. rudolf and his stupid recruitment is starting to frustrate me
speechless much?
@butchboy (Comment 5) : He played for Gloucester and Sale Sharks, someone obviously thought he had talent.
he had awesome hair…
halstead’s return didnt work out too well did it?
@robdylan (Comment 8) : jealous?
@War1 (Comment9)
When did Trveor Halstead make a comeback ???
@robdylan (Comment 6) : um, yeah, just a bit. Not what I was expecting to read while eating breakfast.
Are the Sharks the new Japan?
@Dalz (Comment 11) : exactly my point, he played vodacom cup last year
I can’t remember Keil at all….he couldn’t have made much of an impression on me 🙄 WTF is the reindeer thinking…at least he isn’t on a contract…yet 😯
And ‘Dolf signs Rudi Keil from left field! Unbelievable!
Guys don’t worry, I think the same will happen to him as Trveor Halstead. Unless he actually makes it worth for the Sharks to not play him, then of course it would be worth it anyway.
Sharks have definately lost the plot – Rudi is a likeable bloke but there’s no place for him in the Sharks team any longer !!
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 15) : He hasn’t given him a contract yet, he is only on a trial.
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
@lostfish (Comment 18) : There is a ray of light! I enjoyed Rudi during his Sharks days, but fear his time is over. Maybe Hugh Reece can dust off the boots too.
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 20) : I hope so!! How about asking the class of the 90’s to dust off their boots and get down to the Shark Tank for a trial.
@lostfish (Comment 21) : while u at it, care to get hold of James Small too??
@lostfish (Comment 21) : Perhaps the Sharks could become the first CC team to field a father and his son in the run on XV?
Oh God… 🙄
This is a bit desperate isn’t it?
It is like WP asking De Wet Barry to make a come-back.
@Morné (Comment 25) : Same sh*t different day 🙄
🙄 🙄 🙄
@Morné (Comment 25) : Didn’t the Bulls play him in the S14 this year?
@Ice (Comment 22) : and stick Cabous on the other wing 😉 Rob would like him, he had LOTS of hair…
@Morné (Comment 25) :
Nah, DWB was actually worth something.
It would be like WP asking Gus Theron to make a comeback!! 😈
@Baldrick (Comment 28) :
They did, in their second string team.
But the point I wanted to make is that if you want to pick a player that is perhaps still physically able to play the game of rugby but really offers nothing in any aspects or where I couldn’t find one positive thing through such a selection other than desperation the only name that popped up was De Wet…
@lostfish (Comment 29) : good old Cabooose!
@Ice (Comment 22) : Only if he can use his ” connections” to get Christina Storm a job as Flasher girl 😈
Was Keil that thin guy who always sat on the bench while Pieter Muller and Andre Snyman played?
While I`m not over the moon, I do get the fact that we lack depth among the backs so maybe it`s not such a bad thing.
Keil was average at best in his prime. At least Halstead wore the green and gold and won a Heineken Cup and for the record, he never made a comeback. He didnt want to play CC or super14 rugby, he merely wanted to play some Vodacom Cup as a way of enjoying rugby again in his twilight rugby years. Maybe the Sharks will be wanting Dick Muir back as a player coach. Surely there must be some young Sharks talent to blood and prepare for the future or get in some young talent from the WP now that JdV has gone back there, but calling on a 32 year old never-was… weird.
@Original Pierre (Comment 33) : rather fill the ‘lack of depth’ with youngsters than a 32 year old.
@lostfish (Comment 29) : 😆
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👿 👿 👿
HO HUMM HO HUMM… why is Roelof so DUM???
Why doesn’t Streuli give Andre Snyman a call? At least he’s local… I see him on the South Coast all the time
OK, now I give up. Again.
All Keil did in England was wear a pink tie and shoot the breeze with Sean Fitzpatrick as a guest on Sky before Tri-Nations games, because he was injured all the time.
Another bloody hospital case returns to Durbs.
I don’t like to belittle players when not just having a laugh, but I have to vent.
Keil was one of the worst centres I ever saw. I seriously cannot remember him ever doing something good. He ranks up there with Charlie’s mate Rodger “The Dodger” Smith in my eyes.
oh crap. 😡
Why plummo? 😯 or whoever makes this shitty decisions! 🙄 Depth in the squad yes, but al the younger guys that have been in the setup for two seasons already can surely provide it!
And for goodness sake, chuck Andre out, and give Steve a contract. 🙄
What’s Jeremy Thomson doing these days? Or Pieter Muller? Or Gawie Visagie?
Pieter Muller is coaching Jaguars. Jeremy Thompson is an agent now
@robdylan (Comment 44) : Don’t let Malmensa hear he is a “bloody agent”!! 😈
@Ice (Comment 45) :
@Big Fish (Comment 41) : 👿 Well Rodger might not have been a great a player, but is doing great work as a coach… 😛
@SharksRTB (Comment 42) : STROOILIE 👿 👿 👿
Nothing to do with this thread but rather sad news. The Scottish wing (born in Zim) Thom Evans has been forced to retire after injuring his neck in the 6 nations game against Scotland. At least he is lucky enough to be able to walk…
@lostfish (Comment 49) : I’m just wondering why he was playing against his own team?
@CS (Comment 50) : My bad, against Wales… 😉
@Ice (Comment 45) : you know how hard I had to resist adding the word “bloody” to my comment? And now you’ve undone all that hard work… 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 44) : So that’s why they’re not training with the squad
@robdylan (Comment 52) : 😆 U know how quik I had to think to avoid your automatic moderation settings?? 😉
@Ice (Comment 54) : as a senior member here, I’m surprised that you see it that way. I would expect that you would understand the need for the settings and actively work with me to enforce them…
😳
@robdylan (Comment 55) : 1st: SENIOR member??? I hope that title is not intended age related?! 😆
2nd: oh, but I do work with you actively… 100% behind you.
3rd: hell, Robbotto, you know me…I just could not resist that opportunity 😈 …I know I am very very close, but not even I am perfect!
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Have I just been officially k#kked out?? 😆
@Ice (Comment 56) : HA! Gotcha! 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 58) : Yeah…riiight… 😆