Discarded Western Province utility back Lionel Cronje has signed a two-year deal with the Bulls and will join them in November.
Cronje, a star at under 20 level for South Africa was signed by Province from Free State two years ago, but has battled to kick on as injuries and a lack of discipline have counted against him. After making a bright start in the Currie Cup campaign last year, Cronje was disciplined for his involvement in a fracas at a nightclub and has since slipped down the Province flyhalf pecking order, with the likes of Curt Coleman, Demetri Catrakilis and Gary van Aswegen preferred in the flyhalf position.
Bulls Director of Rugby today revealed that they have been chasing Cronje’s signature for some time and that he will go n to play a vital role for them in the future. This development comes at a time when the Pretoria unions are struggling to find reliable backup to Bok flyhalf Morne Steyn. The Blue Bulls have trialled a number of young flyhalves in this year’s Currie Cup, with none yet passing muster as a player of genuine pedigree.
“The opportunity at the Bulls is one that I am looking forward to immensely,” said Cronje of the move.
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good move by the youngster, met him a few times , great kid and i wish all success to him
😥 I am sure wherever beet is hiding he is probably happy that he has finally won our 1 and a half year long debate about who should be back up to steyn.Mr Beet sure knows his rugby.
For me personally its a bitter pill to swallow i closely followed brummer’s career which such great interest but what he produced on saturday left me highly disappointed and sad.
I will not be surprised if brummer has played his last match in a blue jersey he was rather shocking and embarrasing to watch.
On a positive side of things i welcome lionel cronje with open arms i did say earlier on that the bulls should look at cronje.
Heyneke Meyer has done his homework.
He identified that we had problems with flyhalf depth.
Could be e good signing for the Bulls. Good luck to Lionel.
Gary Coleman? Lesser known brother of Kurt? 😉
Cronje is talented, no doubt. Its his temperament that’s in question. Apologies of repeating myself, but he has a real touch of Gaffie about him – both the good and the bad.
@bloubulblog (Comment 4) : no man! Gary Coleman was Arnold in Diff’rent Strokes. Kom by, nou! 🙂
Can’t believe I did that. 😳
No word on Frans Steyn yet?
the bulls rugby union are a bunch of smart geniuses! they buy so many youngsters while the sharks buy has beens. and this coming from a shark supporter.