Sharksworld has just received confirmation from Gerhard Mostert’s agent that he has signed a deal to play for Stade Francais in Paris.
The move has been the subject of much rumour and speculation since Mostert’s name was included on the inbound transfer list released by the French club a few weeks back. At the time, we were told that there was a genuine offer, but that nothing had yet been finalised. We were hopeful that Mostert would be able to reach an agreement with the Sharks to extend his stay in Durban, but that has unfortunately not happened. He has been released with immediate effect by the Sharks.
According to his agency’s official Facebook page, Mostert had the following to say regarding his move: “I’m really looking forward to the new challenge that awaits me in playing for Stade Francais. They are a big club in France and have been successful over the years in winning cups. Paris is a great city and I’m looking forward to moving over.
“I would like to thank the Sharks for their support over the last two years and for agreeing to my early release. They have been very good to me and I will not forget it. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Sharks and would love to return and play for them in the future. At this stage of my career I felt it was the best move for me, and who knows what the future holds. After all, playing for the Springboks someday is still a goal I wish to achieve.”
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this sucks donkey dick. Very bad move
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Why is everyone leaving the sharks what on earth is up ?????????
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Between your comment and my tweet, this decision is definitely in the area of the donkey’s nether regions 👿
Awesome!! 🙄
@Butchie34 (Comment 5) : ja… I will admit to taking some inspiration from what you said 🙂
O well
Fair to say we`re thin at lock now? 🙁
Le bollocks 🙄
@Original Pierre (Comment 9) : gonna have to rely on Bresler and Marais now… but that’s good… we’ve been developing them for a few years now
WTF?!!! Another balls up by Rudolph and Co. Just as he started realizing the promise he showed that the Sharks saw in him to lure him here we let him go. Add him to the team of players we let go in the last 4 years and you can build a team capable of taking on the best.
Just as he was beginning to make an impact. I think it’s a bad move for him, he was looking like a dead cert to fill the void when Bakkies retires, now he’s losing that opportunity for a quick buck in France? Whom amongst the juniors fits the role of an enforcer lock?
Ok Ive got some blanks here but from what I can remember just look at this list:
1.Deon Carstens
2.
3.BJ Botha
4.Johann Muller
5.Mossie
6.Steven Sykes
7.
8.Sowerby
9.Ruan Pienaar
10.
11. Dusty Noble
12.Brad Barrit
13.Waylon Murray
14.Henno Mentz
15.Frans Steyn
@KingRiaan (Comment 14) : well soon smit can fill that number 2 blank spot. Justin Downey/Michael Rhodes can fill the 7 spot. Id move pienaar to 10 and kockett can fill the 9 spot. Makes for interesting reading…
@SheldonK (Comment 15) : Yeah I actually forgot about Kockett, Rhodes and Downey. That team can sure take on some top teams.
Can’t blame the Sharks for his choice: I’m very certain they did all they could to retain him.
But are Stade Francais not bankrupt – or nearly?
WTF???
Aggenee man, can someone please tell me what now, 2 locks in one year. Who will that gap now, remember that Hargreaves can only play 60% of the games as he is injury prone and spends 40% of his time injured.
We need 2 locks!!!!!!!!
We will not be able to compete without locks and centres!!!!!!!
Please get Rudolph out of the setup, he is [email protected]#$ing up everything!!!
I am so disappointed. Why do we not recruit good young players!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob, surely we can sign a petition to get Rudolph out!!!!
That’s a pity. Especially knowing that now his chance for shining was opening nicely.
How old is he? Wishing the man all the best but I do doubt that move to France before getting into Springboks fold will do any good for his chances. It seems to me that only established Boks from foreign players are considered for national selection.
Surely Sharks must be disappointed after nurturing him after injury most of last year and only now really getting some pay back.
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 19) : Isn’t Marcell Coetsee a promising lock or is he a flank? 😳
@KingRiaan (Comment 12) : so you’d rather have unhappy player ? nee – can’t stand in guys way.
@rekinek (Comment 21) :
So true Rekinek, we rehabilitated him for 18 months!
And no return on the investment, useless.
Marcel is a loosie, Rekinek, maybe its time to move Alberts to 4?
It feels that we are going nowhere slowly, WHY WHY WHY??
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 24) : we still have sykes and hargreaves and they are unlikely to be in the Boks fold – at least not his year.
Not sure about moving Alberts – he is good where he is. I just wish that the Sharks would be less reliant on his bashing abilities.
Can’t believe this. Are the sharks just looking for money or wat? We are buying old average players and letting our younger more promising players go. Surely we should be able to keep a player like mostert who still has springbok ambitions. On the other hand it will be good to c bressler I was impressed wit him at that tri series at the beginning of the S15
@KingRiaan (Comment 14) : steve meyer, monty dumond @ 10
😕 Not a good call by Mostert. Im sure he would have had a good offer on the table and if he was serious about wanting to play for the Boks then he would have to play himself into the team from SA soil not from Europe. It does not work that way. Also not a good shout leaving for a team tottering on the brink of bankruptcy and staring relegation to the third division.
@rekinek (Comment 25) : 😳 forgotten that Sykes is a goner too.
@Salmonoid (Comment 28) : that’s pretty much my thoughts – though maybe he aims at being noticed in France and then the offers from other clubs will surely follow.
but Bokwise he shot himself in the foot IMO.
@rekinek (Comment 23) : Then its time the management realise that the guys that will repay you the most is the guys that were allowed to come from within our structures, not mercenaries. A guy like Lambie and Kanko who has family history with the Sharks or guys like the Dup Brothers who may have come from another province but grew up being Sharks fans. A player who is a fan of the team as well will always play give so much more to for the team than some one who is just there for his pay check. Thats why I’m not getting exited about Marius Joubert. I don’t think he is going to play with the hart us fans expect. And thats a pity, I use to be a fan of his, who can forget his hatrick against the All Blacks?
@rekinek (Comment 25) :
Think you meant Skeate….Sykes off to Ireland.
Have to agree. Mostert was injured most part of his tenure with the Sharks and we paid for his rehabilitation. Just like Lionel Mapoe. It really really doesnt make business sense to buy players or procure them and letting them go to waste or releasing them. BUT, we do still have Hargreaves hopefully for most part of the CC with Skeate, and then we can give Bressler and the Marais their deserved chance at a crack at a starting berth. I would shit pink chessecurls if Strauli would go and buy some other locks whose contract will most probably expire just before the S15 next year.
Really looking forward to see the youngsters coming in and secure their spots.
ja. mostert left the Lions for better pay @ the Sharks, now he has left the Sharks for more euros…hehehehe 😀 go mossie, go get paid dawg
@Megatron (Comment 27) : Haha Monty was/is a good player when he is switched on, can still remember that game against the Bulls where he just did not seem to put a foot wrong.
@rekinek (Comment 25) :
What will happen next year though, when Sykes go?
I am just so disappointed, I can not believe that they would expect better results by doing the same things, losing good players, paying big money for has been overseas players, buying players from other countries to fill gaps as a short term solution.
Aggenee man, Rob please make us heard, it feels like death in my family when we lose good players.
Wishlist:
Get Steyn for 15, get Pienaar for 9, get Sadie/Whitehead for 13 and Baritt for 12, hold on to Mostert or move Alberts to 4 and get Brussouw for 6. Get BJ Botha back!
I know its far fetched but everyone has to dream.
@KingRiaan (Comment 31) : Kanko has got family history with Eastern Province, not Sharks.
@KingRiaan (Comment 31) : i agree. I am not usually getting really excited by the signing (with exception of Freddy
but seriously Fred’s done well for the Sharks last time so it is a bit different, I guess. There have been some exciting signing over the years like Alberts for example but most (Bosman, JLP) nothing to write home about.
Most of the people would prefer to see youngsters given a chance and I am no different here.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 32) : yip. and Skeate is a good player plus experienced. So although sorry to loose Mostert I am not getting into depression.
That’s a big stomach punch! No man! This is gonna hurt our next S15 campaign.
@Salmonoid (Comment 36) : Wasn’t Eastern Cape at some point a recruiting base for the Sharks? I am not that knowledgeable on the subject but I know people from the area who are historically sharks supporters.
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 35) : Ireland.
Nice wishlist. I am not worried about locks, the centres on the other hand 🙄
@Salmonoid (Comment 36) : O sorry my bad thought his dad played prop or something for Natal
@rekinek (Comment 37) : Yeah but if you look at Freddie, he is one of those loyal players you seldom see, I mean, if Im correct, he has only played for two clubs since he was 16, Toulouse and Sharks.
So we have no new signings or interest in other young players??
Please can anyone fill us in.
@KingRiaan (Comment 42) : his dad played wing for EP…
Brad Barritt’s dad played prop for Natal
@rekinek (Comment 40) : @KingRiaan (Comment 42) : His dad played wing for EP in the days before Super rugby. I think he played with Danie Gerber, Garth Wright, Kallie Grobler.
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 43) : I am not aware of anything in the pipeline at the moment
@robdylan (Comment 44) : @Salmonoid (Comment 45) : Thanks guys got that one a bit messed up 😳
@KingRiaan (Comment 42) : He may actually have a family connection to the Sharks via Zululand. I knew a chap from Empangeni, Barry Kankowski, a huge guy that I think played for Zululand.
@KingRiaan (Comment 47) : No stress, I think his dad now lives on the South coast and is at all the home games.
@robdylan (Comment 46) :
Thx Rob, what is your thoughts on Mossies departure, and should we go into a frantic panic?
Do we have the locks to step up like Bresler or should we shop around?
Sad thing about this is that there just dont seem to be many locks around in SA that are knocking the door down and I think that Mostert was starting to do that.
Haha so I only realise now that Kanko and Spies have something in common after all. Both their fathers played wing and now both of them play 8th man
This sucks big time, I also wanna know what’s going on… Why’s everyone leaving????????
@Salmonoid (Comment 49) : spot on… the whole clan is now very KZN-ified, accents and all.
Have met his mom and dad… they’re lovely people.
@Megatron (Comment 33) : Got any decent lock dawgs down there that want to get decent pay, drop Rudi a line.
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 50) : Reynier, to my mind, the question is always, what that panic will achieve.
Fact is, a few of us getting really cross and signing a petition is not going to do anything to changes this, so we need to make the best of it and move on.
I’m disappointed that Gerhard has opted to leave. I think it’s a big mistake on his part and a pretty poor way to repay the Sharks who rescued his career… but that’s that and we probably don’t have all the facts anyway.
Bresler is going to step up now… the kid has been waiting for 3 years to get this chance. Let’s see him do it.
Its a very simple reason why guys are leaving: Euro vs Rand = No contest! its as simple as that! rugby is how these guys make a living so obviously they will go where they make more. Its not about loyalty etc.
@robdylan (Comment 56) : maybe he’s fallen desperately in love with a French lady and she told him she can’t leave Parii 😆 You never know 😛
@rekinek (Comment 58) : I hope his South African girlfriend Charlene doesn’t find out 🙂
@SheldonK (Comment 57) : True, its the fans that are loyal, the players are there to make money. Its screwed up but thats how it is.
O well, if I had to choose, Sharks or my wife?
Sharks would win hands down 😆
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 61) : Good man, as long as your wife (or mine) does not read this. Poor KSA gets monitored 24/7. 😈
This all comes down to Bok chances. It makes it very very difficult for the Sharks management. Most Boks will come from the dominant provincial union which has been the Bulls for the last few years. The players who are good enough for international rugby will get huge offers and those who don’t have the incentive of being a first choice Bok will then leave. This makes it even more difficult to mount a serious challenge to be the dominant team because just as players really stand out but are still behind Bok incumbents the lure of the Euro will be that much greater. We CANNOT blame the management for the letting the players go, we actually need to applaud them for treating the players properly and allowing them to go early rather than have a pissed off player leaving in a few months. The sad reality is players leave because the Sharks are not the dominant team in South Africa and it is so much more difficult to become the dominant team because players are leaving, vicious circles and all that.
@Salmonoid (Comment 62) :
Amen Brother!!
KSA good luck,brother!!!
Oh well… best of luck Mossie. Hope we see you back in the Sharks colours sooner rather than later.
I also really hope we back our younger locks.
@war1 (Comment 63) : holy crap… where’s the cliff? 🙂
@Salmonoid (Comment 55) : nah, we’re not in the business of pumping the sharks full of our EC talent, go look at your own school man!
Etzebeth from WP looks to be a very promising lock. In an ideal world he would be a great replacement for Mossie:)
@robdylan (Comment 66) : Look, that ‘dominant’ tag is up for grabs next year but WP probably have the inside lane. The fact is, something needs to be done about the European clubs raiding the South. It weakens us and it ultimately weakens their national teams, no one wins in the end.
@mikey (Comment 68) :
Ah there we go again. Sign someone from another union.
How about giving your younger locks like Bresler and the Marais brothers a chance?? 😉
Guys at the end of the day stade francais only came out of debt I hear this week..I doubt any amounts offered would of kept mostert..he was probably waiting to hear if his future was certain over there..so I don’t think we can blame strauli for this..we are good to the players and they know it…we allow them to leave early so good on us but maybe the sharks need to be harsher…
But in saying that I wish the young guns good luck on stepping up..I think they can and with some game time who knows we might be asking mostert who????
@wpw (Comment 70) : ha ha… Etzebeth seems to be a cut above them.
@robdylan (Comment 56) :
the problem is you cant get a guy out off his contract forcefully and expect him to be loyal to you .
thats why im not over excited about Mapoe at the Lions … he will most probably make another move soon …
@Zibbie the court battle was over Alberts and Ludick, Mostert was out of contract @ Lions and signed with the Sharks as free agent.
Zibbie don’t worry the Lions are stuck with Mapoe which other union will trust his signature now?
@Zibbie (Comment 73) : Mostert was out of contract when he signed for the Sharks. The dispute was about Alberts and Ludik.
@war1 (Comment 76) :
oh ok sorry 😉
So Wp is after Brussow again.!!! 👿
@Rvw (Comment 78) : yeah… yawn
Suppose to replace Louw.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I have never sucked a donkey’s dick. But I will take it from your experience it is very bad. 😆
What I do know now the Sharks aren’t looking at winning the Super Rugby trophy in the next few years. They cannot do it with their current squad, and any youngsters coming through aren’t experienced enough to do the job.
I am pleased for Ross Skeat though. John Plumtree happily dropped him into the Vodacom Cup team, now he is an important part of the main team. Hopefully he takes his chance with both hands.
@waje (Comment 82) : jeez – all that negativity in the context of Mostert’s departure. C’mon guys – he is very far from our best player or anchor player.
Believe me – we will survive.
@waje (Comment 83) : Skeate was injured too often to just jump to the first team.
@rekinek (Comment 84) : Rekinek, you should relook at the value he added to the squad. Both Sykes and Mostert when playing together made the Sharks tight five look great at scrum time. Hargreaves and Skeat never had the same impact. Maybe it isn’t as bad as I have made out, but it isn’t as great as you may think.
@waje (Comment 86) : i do not try to undervalue him and pity that he is leaving but it’s not a reason to jump off the cliff. All in all it is our second or even a third choice lock leaving. He is not like Quade Cooper for Reds – not even close.
@shaniboi (Comment 71) : Mostert who? The only Mostert I know is the one’s you put on your hot dog. 😆
@rekinek (Comment 87) : Nope with Sykes gone he would have been our 1st choice no4.
@Rvw (Comment 78) :
So is WP really hunting Brussouw?
What are the chances of them getting him?
@Ben (Comment 89) : Well, as you say – would have been. I don’t see people lamenting so excessively Sykes departure. That was the gist of what I was saying.
Skeate is 5 isn’t he?
@rekinek (Comment 85) : Mostert was also injured and he did. I am not under valueing Skeat, as I feel he is a good player. He just doesn’t add the same grunt at scrum time.
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 90) : slim I believe. From what I heard him and Juan resigned for some time still.
@rekinek (Comment 91) : Yup Skeate is actually a 5.
And to be honest I don’t rate the guy.
@rekinek (Comment 91) : Sykes going was disappointing, but due to there still being Mostert it was easier to swallow. But now the loss of both is a cause for concern. The Sharks have survived the last few years because their forwards carried the team through, while the backline stuttered. Now with a weaker forward pack, the backline suddenly has to actually perform, and the question is can they?
@Ben (Comment 94) : he’s been quite good in lineouts other than that I can’t say that he played so much rugby for the Sharks that I could form a decent opinion.
He left WP when they were somewhat below par so also can’t remember anything outstanding about him.
@rekinek (Comment 93) :
WTF??
Just saw the massive offer WP made him, 2,5 – 3 bar a year.
Where do these okes get the money from, sitting still with that “Brilliant” 21 bar left wing on their books.
Tell me why do we not make an offer?
@waje (Comment 95) : i do think they can. Really.
@Reynier Jacobs (Comment 97) : also just read an arti on supersport that his contract expires end of this season (somehow thought it is still at least till 2012). Oh well, I would still be surprised if he moves.
Good times for WP perhaps. And I do think that Sharks will survive without him – what about giving chances to the young guys we were chatting earlier 😉
@rekinek (Comment 96) : Yeah he hasn’t played much but I just don’t see anything special in him from the times I’ve seen him play.
Look I am over reacting, as there is still 6 months for the Sharks to build a team for next year. The current squad should easily cruise through to the playoffs of the Currie Cup. But the Sharks need to build a squad of 40 players before next year if they want to compete. Currently they don’t have the squad needed to do it. In my opinion.
@waje (Comment 86) : You are comparing two 5 locks to two 4 locks at scrum time, no comparison, of course the two 4 locks will solidify the scrum, but the Sharks would have very few lineout options. Bressler will be interesting this season because he is a hybrid 4/5 lock very much like Muller was. We have a very good 5 lock in Hargreaves, and Skeate to back him up, but we are very weak at 4 lock after losing both Mostert and Sykes. Neither are “the stars” of the team, but it does mean the Sharks will have to dig deep to field a solid 4 lock this CC and next SupeRugby.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 102) : I don’t recall both Mostert and Sykes wearing number 4 jerseys when they were on the field together a few weeks ago. And I recall our lineouts were no worse with Hargreaves off. But yes, the Sharks don’t have the grunt in the scrum anymore.
@waje (Comment 103) : Mostert can cover 5 if needed, but he is a 4 lock. He played 5 with Sykes at 4, but both are truly 4 locks.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 102) : ullo DB
@robdylan (Comment 105) : Howzit Rob, enjoy your braai last night?
Seems. Like province have put in a bid for Heinrich Brussouw for +/- R300k a month for next year…
@ruggabugga (Comment 107) : Hein Brussouw was awesome before his injury. I just wonder how well his style of play will work with the laws interpretation used in 2011. Personally I feel he will need to alter his style of play somewhat.
DB that’s a lot of money though ,do the guys in NH earn that well??
DB do you think others even in NH earn this well???
@ruggabugga (Comment 109) : Let’s see R300K is about $30K Euros. I know there are players in the NH earning in the $500K Euros range, which is around $40K Euros. So yes, some NH players do earn that kind of money. Still without seeing how Hein reacts to the new Laws interpretation, I am not sure the investment is that good an idea.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 111) : Heinrich is a genius DB. I believe he will adapt very quickly.
@Ben (Comment 112) : Howzit Ben, I don’t disagree with you that he will probably adapt. The problem is that he has not yet had the opportunity to show he can adapt. Personally I feel he will adapt somewhat, but will never be at the level he was a couple years ago, I just don’t think the new interpretations will allow it. Hein’s was superb at the tackle, and then stealing the ball, now with the requirement for space between the tackler and ball carrier before the tackler can steal the ball, I just don’t think Hein will be as effective. Just my opinion. He is one strong oke though.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 113) : Great thanks and you Uncle? I think will still be one of the best fetchers out there, even under the new laws. The others also have to adapt. Only problem is he’s a walking injury. So much money for someone who seems to get injured all the time. Not a great investment imo.
@Ben (Comment 114) : I’m doing well Ben, thanks for asking. I agree with you regarding his injury problems. I believe he can still be one of the best fetchers out there with the new law interpretations, but I still am not sure he will be able to adapt. Others also have to adapt, you are correct, but remember 2 years ago, Hein was able to dominate McCaw, after the law changes, McCaw was clearly able to adapt, I just don’t see Hein dominating McCaw again like he did two years ago. Just my opinion.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 115) : Yes it all comes down to how effective your fetcher is. Imo Richie hasn’t been that effective under the new laws. Hein has been injured for too long to get any consistent performances in.
Anyways how you feeling about this Mostert case?
Will be big loss to Sharks…best lock they had…
@Ben (Comment 116) : Very frustrated about losing Mostert. I don’t think it is a good move on his part. Richie has not been as effective a “fetcher” as he was prior to 2010, but he is a better rugby player in my opinion, he does more around the pitch now than he did 2 years ago. Again, just my opinion.
Guys isn’t the taxes a killer though..they can’t surely walk away with all that cash
@shaniboi (Comment 119) : Is there a lot of difference in the relative tax rate between SA and Europe?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 120) : I don’t know but I hear that the taxes are heavier..maybe they more heavier than here!!
“We won’t be looking to sign any new locks,” said Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl. “We still have Ross Skeate and Alistair Hargreaves and we want to develop young locks like Anton Bresler and Jandre Marais.”
I think the Sharks administrators under estimate the Super Rugby tournament. It explains why the team cannot keep momentum and fades at the end.
@waje (Comment 122) : But in the last two years the Sharks have lost Michael Rhodes, Steven Sykes, Johan Muller, Albert vd Berg and Mostert. This doesn’t help settling lineouts and strengthening scrums.
I still think Mostert is making a mistake going to Stade. They are in serious financial difficulties and were almost relegated to the 3rd division. I really hope they can overcome this because they are my French team. That said they have recruited some big names into the team and dumped what they called the English mercenaries. Hopefully they can get back to their winning ways.
It is also disappointing because I think he will be the obvious choice to replace Bakkies at the Boks.