Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl confirmed that John Smit has signed for the Sharks and will play for them in 2011. This was confirmed in Bloemfontein where van Zyl is attending the Mapoe court case.
This would end all rumours that the most capped international captain will be moving to the Lions. It is understood that a sizeable offer from the Lions has been turned down in favour of staying with the Black and White.
This will be John Smit’s last opportunity to win the only trophy that he is yet to lift, the Super Rugby trophy. It is fantastic news for the Sharks in that there are not a lot of captains in world rugby as astute as him, but it does leave Sharks coach John Plumtree with quite an interesting selection problem.
Craig Burden has been in amazing form for the Sharks so far this Currie Cup, and Bismarck du Plessis has shown what he is capable of in the games he played after his injury. Three great hookers and only one starting place among them. Where will they fit in?
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You will need all three in the expanded competition.
That’s great news, I hope the same follows for Kanko and JPP!!!
@Morné (Comment 1) :
That is true.. And I wont be surprised if Smit is forced to miss a certain number of rounds pre- WC
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) :
Positions such as hooker, scrummy and flyhalf will require you to have 3 guys in your squad.
@Morné (Comment 4) :
In that case we have 4 hookers if you add into the mix Kyle Cooper..
Never a bad thing to have the most capped international Captain of all time in your squad!
Rotating Smitty and Bissie at 2 will ensure they are both fit, ready and hungry for RWC 2011… None of this Smitty to prop stuff again please.
Good [email protected]Letgo (Comment 2) : yeah agree we really need em 2 sign. I think they will
This is good. He can be a good mentor to young leaders such as Hargs.
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 6) :
What are the chances that Richie might surpass John once he retires?? 🙄 😥
for one im happy he has commited himself to the sharks cause in 2011…i have a good mate who is smitties cousin and he was telling me that since pdiddy has taken over as coach he has alot of players on a weird diet and training schedule…could this be the teams recent slump in form and barneys weight gain???????
i personally think kanko and jpp will sign for the sharks…there is big things happening down there and if we do win the currie cup or make it to the final it will give the guys motivation for the super 15
but this weekend is going to be biggg…got my tickets and cant wait to see us drill the lions…
I know this is just sentimental, but I just happy that he will end his career where it all started! LOVE U JOHNNO!!!!
Call me sentimental, but I am loving this news!
Now that is loyalty! Very happy you are staying in Black and white John!
@Ice (Comment 11) : Totally with you one that one!
He has done so much for the Sharks, and I think the opposite is true as well…for him to end it were it started will be special.
The one thing though that makes this all the better for me personally, is that I don’t want to lose his experience and knowledge to another union, were he might then impart that on a coaching level.
I’m sure he would love a break from the game once he steps aside, but it would be wonderful to have him part of our coaching staff one day. As inspirational as he is as a leader, I think he could do the same as a forwards/assistant coach.
NOW…Kanko, Jp…sign on the dotted line son!
Smit’s value extends beyond just playing
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 13) : r u counting the sleeps like I am??
@AlienArmy (Comment 14) : Would love to see Smit as a coach at the Sharks, but maybe starting with the juniors first?
This is great news indeed!
However the Sharks and John himself need to get a decent diet. As a hooker John needs to be faster and lighter, right now he is somewhere in between a prop and a hooker and at his age and with rugby like it is today, he will have to commit to a position.
@Ice (Comment 16) : Ice what sleep? I am not getting much 🙂 really stuck on what to wear! And wondering who our player will be
I can’t say it’s the best of news. Don’t get me wrong, JS is a great leader and a valuable asset to any union but he comes at a price (Bismarck, Jannie, Beast, Craig, Kanko and JPP). The budget the Lions had for JS will be redirected at JPP and Kanko. I hope these guys don’t get tempted by cash and stay.
Yaaay!
Great news this.
@Morné (Comment 1) : Ok fair enough… I made a comment yesterday that I was not so sure that he can contribute that much more to Sharks Rugby. But looking at it that way I will admit I was wrong. I just hope that this won’t effect Burden too much. He really seems to be getting better the more he plays and I would hate it if the Sharks were to lose him.
Clarity at last! Thanx guys.
@war1 (Comment 17) : Definitely…think he will take a chill after his playing days for a bit, but then he could build on his coaching like Plum did…starting small, and then taking the Sharks to their 20th currie cup title! 🙂
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 19) : should we “dress up” a bit?? 😉
@Ice (Comment 25) : Hopefully you`ll take better care of your camera this time around so your SW buddies can see what happened? 😉
Great news… fingers xd he can help us get that Super rugby title next year (lets be honest, the way the Boks are playing, it may be the only one we get next year!).
@Ice (Comment 25) : sounds like we will have to Megan sais nothing skimpy 😯
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 28) : I am talking something “different”. Is there no price??
Fantastic news. Actually not that surprised Smit is staying with Sharks. Sharks know what we have in him and not just his playing but after his playing days are finished. He will be a great asset to the Sharks after too.
We need much bigger squads to see us through the S15, Tri-Nations to the world cup next year. So Bissie will get plenty game time maybe Burden too. Need to rotate and rest players for some games to keep them fit for the very long season next year.
@war1 (Comment 17) : I would too.
With John signing have a feeling Kanko and JPP will sign too.
this is great news go Captain and get the SRT for us knew you wouldn’t let our suporters down heeaaahhhh
@Ice (Comment 29) : yes there is a prize according to Debbie that is just it I dont have an imagination dont know what to wear;-(
Perhaps with Smit signing again it will prompt the others to stay.
@lostfish (Comment 35) : That is my feeling too.
That’s good news if Smit moves back to loosehead to accommodate him as captain in the starting lineup.
He didn’t do badly there last time round and is still in prop conditioning anyway
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 34) : cool! Leave it to mamma Ice!
ok – it’s run time.
LAter team
@Ice (Comment 16) :
What for Ice? You going to the game on Sat?
@Villie (Comment 40) : Sharks ladies breakfast
It,s time Smit won the Sharks a cup as captain,I dont think he has?
Is there any news on mapoe yet?
@Honey Badger (Comment 42) : none that I can find
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Thanks Rob
The judge has reserved judgement.
Kinda defeats the purpose of being a judge, one would think
It just means he needs more time to think, you IT heathen. 😆
What was he doing all the time the lawyers were talking, then? Doing sudoku in his head?
@robdylan (Comment 48) : haha! interesting that Kevin de Klerk has now come out and said that they have never made an offer to John Smit. wonder what he will say when JP and Kanko signs on with the sharks?
i think he just wants to make a point that he did not negotiate with john while under contract or something…
@VanWilder (Comment 49) : he’s lying. I have good info to back that up
@robdylan (Comment 50) : what else can we expect from him? 🙄 i`m pretty sure de Klerk and Verster went to the same school or something, because they are of the same breed…
This is good news. John is a Sharks, he just wouldn’t look good in any other provincial colour.
Lions do not want Bok captain
Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:08
The Lions never made an offer to Springbok captain John Smit, despite reports suggesting he had turned them down.
Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk on Thursday issued a statement refuting reports that the injured Bok captain, Smit, had “turned down a lucrative offer from the Lions to remain at the Sharks”.
Sharks Chief Executive Brian van Zyl on Thursday confirmed that Smit had signed with his union until after the World Cup next year.
Recent media reports had linked Smit with a move to the Lions, with some uninformed reporters claiming the offer was worth as much as R4-million.
However, the GLRU President, De Klerk, dismissed this as “media rumours”.
“Contrary to what has been presented to the public, through various media channels, the Golden Lions Rugby Union never engaged with John Smit at any stage whatsoever regarding joining the Lions,” De Klerk said in a statement.
“We did have internal discussions about him possibly joining us, but we decided against making an offer.
“I would like to emphasize that at no stage did the GLRU make an offer to John Smit,” De Klerk added.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that Smit has been ruled out for three months – following neck surgery.
@VanWilder (Comment 49) :
Very convenient to say this AFTER the Sharks announce the signing, where was he (Harold Verster De Klerk) with his comment when the rumours were doing the rounds?
@KSA Pink Shark © (Comment 53) : this is a lie
Why would you pay 4 million a year for a man at the end of his career? Maybe the “quality” that is Dick Muir saw value in it, but the Lions are better off securing the likes of a BJ Botha or international player than bringing in Smit.
Maybe it was just a rumor to try and keep Bismark around. God knows he must be fed up with all the crap.