Former Lions hooker Ethienne Reyneke has joined up with the Stormers squad from Saracens, in a loan move that will see the Cape Side’s front row resources bolstered ahead of their game against the unbeaten Highlanders this weekend.
Regular hooker Tiaan Liebenberg picked up a serious injury in pre-season, leaving the Stormers dependent on young players such as Siyabonga Ntubeni as backup to Deon Fourie in the crucial number 2 shirt.
Reynecke, now 28, left Johannesburg to join up with the Watford club in 2010, but has struggled to unseat another South African, Schalk Brits, from the starting lineup. The Stormers will apparently give him a run in the Vodacom Cup this weekend, before considering him for the Super Rugby match against the Bulls in a fortnight.

Another “victory” for the Lions?? π
Does he still have a mullet?
Ethienne Ray Cyrus the Aussie commentators called him.
Looks like Ricky McJanuarie has been dropped.
Stormers: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Jean De Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 CJ van Der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe / JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Gary Van Aswegen, 22 Jaque Fourie.
@McLovin (Comment 3) : π i`m (Mc)Lovin it… π
for some reason i cant remember his name, but i would have gone for the EP Kings hooker on a loan deal (Franklin i think). He really played well for the Pumas in the CC and a few games for the lions last year in S14.
@VanWilder (Comment 6) : Hannes Franklin is the name you are thinking of
Ricky might now pick up another few kg’s…. sitting on the bench. π― But IMHO that is where he belongs.
@Ice (Comment 1) :
@SharksRTB (Comment 8) : IMO he belongs on the bench for Boland. Not a team like the stormers.
@Ben (Comment 10) : True. But why can’t the Stormers management see that he is way out of shape!!! β Put him on a conditioning program or something.
@SharksRTB (Comment 11) : Its a laughing matter.
@SharksRTB (Comment 11) : The January of old used to get fitter and better as the season progressed. Gaining form and conditioning after 3 or 4 games.
He is older now and that weight is not going to fall off as quickly as it used to.
The Stormers coaching staff need to have their arses kicked ALMOST as hard as he deserves to have his own kicked.
January is the type of player (and I know this because I used to be the same) who will ignore any training program he is given unless the coach/instructor is standing there watching him do it.
If they feel he adds as much value as they say he does and giving him a personal trairer will be worth the returns it generates then they must take him under their wing and work with him 1 on 1. But IMO you have to be VERY special to justify that treatment and I’m afraid he is just isn’t special enough.
Quiet day on the site nuh
@McLovin (Comment 4) :
Is it just me ..But I truely believe that De Jongh best position is at inside center ..he needs to get the ball earlier ..Id be hard pressed to find a center in SA that creates or takes a gap like he does. In so doing he will more often than not open up gaps for support runners. Whereas Jean is more a crash ball player these days.
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 15) : Yeah but thing is he needs to practise at 13 because next season when he comes to the sharks he can just slot in next to Meyer Bosman. π
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 15) : I actually prefer him at 13 for now. Maybe move to twelve later on. But then again I’m not really that fussed as long as he stays in Cape Town. π
@Ben (Comment 16) : @McLovin (Comment 17) :
On your marks ..
Well Ill be honest he is one player I’d love to see come to the Lions ..but he is a home boy from the Cape so I reckon it will be near impossible to lure him away..unless ofcourse he gets shunted around …
Aplon another of my Favourite players.
@Ben (Comment 16) :
So my dear fellow you ready to admit you may have been wrong in Bosman’s assesment last year .. π
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 18) : De Jongh can put on that sharks jersey any day. I would be very happy. Gio can stay where he is, sharks don’t need him.
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 18) : Aplon is a giant. So happy he’s back. π
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 19) : Dude I’ve thought about it and remembered I told someone Meyer sucks and I wanted to tell that person that Meyer has proved himself to me already. So it was you?
@Ben (Comment 22) :
It r I yes … π I’m glad you see that now and especially now that he is with the Sharks ..Sometimes tough to shine in a average team. Just ask Ludik and Alberts.
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 23) : Plus I haven’t really followed the cheetahs games much in the past. You were right he is quality. Actually couldn’t see myself liking him but now I do.