The Bulls have confirmed that both Lionel Mapoe and Callie Visagie will join them on a loan basis for the 2013 Super Rugby season after which they will return to the Lions for the promotion/relegation match with the lowest finishing South African team.
Lionel Mapoe has had his ups and downs in the past, missing an entire season while training with the Sharks and being in a contractual dispute with the Cheetahs, but since signing with the Lions, he has had two very good seasons which has seen him be rewarded with a Springbok call up and is currently touring with the Boks to Europe.
Visagie has impressed Bulls coach Frans Ludeke this season, being quoted as saying the player brings physicality to the pack. Visagie is likely to be behind Chiliboy Ralepelle in the ranks, but will fight it out with Willie Wepener for a spot on the Bulls bench.
Ludeke went on to thank the Lions for allowing them to utilise these players for the Super Rugby season, saying that it will benefit both the players and the tams going forward.
Tweet
Mapoe in pink 😯 playing outside Wynand 😥
@Megatron (Comment 1) : Mapoe in pink playing outside Venter
Or maybe inside Engelbrecht…
@ChrisS (Comment 2) : Hey,behave… we should try to get JC…need a battle hard number 1 to rotate with Beast.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 3) : Haha! No man! I meant use Mapoe as an inside centre. He runs good lines and is quick!!
How come the Sharks aren’t signing any of these players?
Well we got Franco in the locks, which was a good signing considering how green our locks will be next year.
But now we need a proper prop.
JC and / or Adriaanse would be very useful
@Letgo (Comment 5) : I’m also baffled. The top unions are busy making their sides stronger. Why are we not also cashing in? JC should have been signed ages ago.
guys . Can you please reminde me who the Lions u/21 wing/center was who the sharks had for a trail period at the start of this year ? wendel mjaki (spelling ? )
Wandile Mjekevu… He still plays for our U21 team.
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 9) :
a great thanx !!! there we go
@GreatSharksays (Comment 7) : JC will not play for any other side next year he will lead the lions vodacom side (repaying them for the faith they had in him) Adriaanse is another matter, don’t know if he signed a loan deal with another team yet. Sharks could use him as backup to Jannie.
I think Plum will like to use only players contracted to the Sharks next year, rather than investing time and money in imported players that can only play in super 15.
@Bokhoring (Comment 6) :
If you are referring to Jacobie Adriaanse, he is playing in Wales, for the Scarlets.
@Here be dragons (Comment 12) : where did Jacobie play for lions or GWK know the brothers (Jacobie and Louwrens) played for the two teams not sure who played where, but both not to bad at 3.
Lourens played for the Griquas; Jacobie, Lions.
So.. Butch is coming to the Sharks, interesting yet pointless.
@HORSEFLY (Comment 15) :
Not exactly. Good cover for Lambie. I don’t really want Bosman or Viljoen as our outside half backup for a big match. Zeilinga and Hauptfleich could also learn a thing or two off him.
@Here be dragons (Comment 14) : pity Jacobie went to wales, Sharks could have used him next year.
@JD (Comment 17) :
Agreed. That being said, he will probably start near every match for the Scarlets. Their front row is worse than the WP one prior to this season.