Stefan Terblanche has officially ended the speculation regarding his future by confirming that he will leave the Sharks to join Ulster on a short-term contract.
Terblanche finally let the cat out of the bag this morning, after the move was confirmed by the Belfast side yesterday. The most-capped Shark of all time started hinting a few weeks back that he wouldn’t be in black and white again next season, although when questioned about retirement, insisted that he was not going to be hanging up his boots.
Terblanche will join a strong South African contingent at Ravenhill that includes former Sharks team mates Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller. The deal is only for 3 months, as cover for the injured Jared Payne.
It is unclear whether Terblanche intends to move elsewhere once the Ulster deal is up. Rumours have linked him to both Japan and Wales, but he may also opt to retire altogether in February next year.
We’d like to wish Stefan all the best in the white and red of Ulster and thank him for many, many years of loyal and dedicated service.
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Legend
Go well Stef, you have been a wonderful servant of SA Rugby.
I reckon Oupa still has enough in him to play a while up North.
Good luck Stefan. You were a true inspiration. Any one knows what happened to Riaan Swanepoel, whereabouts?
@dewald1 (Comment 4) : looks like he signed with french club brive
Go well, be blessed, and while you can, enjoy playing the game of rugby…
Thanks Jovner. Sharks need new Centres.
All the best for the future Stefan, you were an inspiration and a true Sharks legend. You served Sharks rugby with true dedication and loyalty and for that we salute you.
@dewald1 (Comment 7) : There is one on his way.
@war1 (Comment 9) :
is his head white ? 😆
@jovner (Comment 5) : spot on – just working on the story now
@Zibbie (Comment 10) : Yes, now is a good Tim(e) to announce the confirmation.
@robdylan (Comment 11) : I thought you’d done the article a few weeks back
This must qualify for worst kept secret of the year
Thank you for your dedicated service to the Sharks Oupa Stef! Good luck to the future.
@beet (Comment 13) : about Swannie? No…
Yes, I confirmed the Whitehead move a few weeks back… but now it’s apparently “confirmed confirmed”… all silly semantics.
Cheers Stefan.
You have been a great example to many a player and supporter. Be well, be healthy and enjoy.
Maybe Stef can slap Ruan a few times and get him playing like he did at the Sharks again??
True Gentleman! Great servant of the game we so love! Wishing u all the best!
Thanks for all you have done for the Sharks Stef. You have been a great role model. All the best with Ulster.
Cheers buddy. May you have a great future. 🙂
Thank you Stefan.
A nice down to earth humourous guy that never once selected himself for the Sharks team. He could have been overlooked in 2011 but the coach who’d guided the Sharks to 3 Currie Cup finals in 4 seasons believed that he still had a role to play.
Stef’s leadership was instrumental in the Currie Cup winning campaign of 2010.
Although he produced some great form in his early years in the Super 12 and played at the highest level for SA, I think I’ll best remember Stefan when for that spell in his career as the graceful reliable Sharks fullback that commanded the back and wowed both fans and opponents of the Sharks.
Dear Oupa (says the older-than-Stef blogger), thank you for your dedication and selfless devotion to the Sharks cause. All the best with your future endeavours, and I hope to see you back and involved behind the scenes at the Sharks in the very near future.
Cheers Stef, thanks for the good times! You’ve done us proud.
Already send him my well wishes. I think he can do great couching, that way he stays involved with rugby.
what is this about michalak going back to france? 😯
My favourite moment from Stef was around 98/99 in a test against the All Blacks when he steamrollered over Christian Cullen on his way to a try.
Thanks Stef
@Megatron (Comment 26) : he’s already there…
It’s called a “holiday”
@robdylan (Comment 16) : And what do you think of him? My feeling is that Alistair Coetzee gave him plenty of chances in both Super14 and Currie Cup and he was solid but not spectacular…
@CapeShark (Comment 29) : I haven’t seen enough of him to comment either way.
Does feel a bit as though we’re giving every centre in the country a trial run though…
@robdylan (Comment 16) : And it will be confirmed again when he arrives in Dbn. 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 30) : until now it’s been the wrong centres. 😉
@Megatron (Comment 26) : oh wait – I see it now.
He was only ever contracted to the Sharks until te end of Super Rugby next year… all he’s saying now is that he’ll move back to France after that.
Big whoopie…
KSA my handle pic has not been updated since Sunday ..?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : someone said something about how we missed a trick with Stemmet… I kind of have to agree.
@CoffeeshopBok 😉 (Comment 34) : Ctrl-F5
@robdylan (Comment 33) : Don’t you think it would be a good idea to keep him on at the Sharks in the same role Spencer plays for the Lions? Or does he still want to go and play Rugby in France?
@robdylan (Comment 36) :
Thanks Robd !
@Ben (Comment 37) : he apparently wants to get back into the French test squad
@CoffeeshopBok 😉 (Comment 38) : no problem dude
@robdylan (Comment 39) : Does he now. The French do like them flyhalves small and petit.
Good luck Stef – you’re a legend. Hope we see you back at the Sharks as conditioning coach one day!
@robdylan (Comment 28) : is it just a “holiday”? 😀
@robdylan (Comment 35) : We missed a serious trick with Stemmet! We let him go and then just after that bring in Joubert who costs more? Makes no business sense!
@Megatron (Comment 43) : I just saw on the three letter site (that dare not speak it’s name) that Michalak wants to try and have another crack at the french team because their coach is a bit more accepting of Michalak’s instinctive style. A bit optimistic if you ask me. He’s 29 and they seemed perfectly capable with the two flyhalves they took to the World Cup.