In addition to the signing of former Shark XV fullback Kobus de Kock, which we reported some weeks back, the Golden Lions have snapped up a number of other young and fringe players to swell their 2013 ranks.
Bulls flyhalf Lionel Cronje is perhaps the most famous of these, with the former Free State and Western Province youngster now moving on to his fourth team in about as many years, after unhappy stints in both Cape Town and Pretoria. He’ll join a right-old scrum for flyhalf game-time in Joburg, though, with Guy Cronje, Marnitz Boshoff and a few other youngsters already in the picture.
Bulls lock Franco Mostert, who played a bit of Currie Cup this year, is also on his way, along with hooker Robbie Cootzee and another young lock in JJ Breedt. Also signed are former Maties centre Stokkies Hanekom, Maties lock Hugo Kloppers and TUT front-ranker Jacques van Rooyen.
Tweet
Go LIONS!!!
@Mutley (Comment 1) : I remember the flack that Kevin Putt got for signing 13 players of similar ilk back in 2004…
It might be a good idea for them to get players that are not yet tarnished by the culture of the Lions. Quade Cooper should go to the Lions if he wants to experience a toxic culture!
@robdylan (Comment 2) : There were a few diamonds amongst the very very average.
Jacques Botes being the biggest find in the dozen
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 5) : You are kidding right?
@lostfish (Comment 6) : He is spot on
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 5) : I’d say a tie between Botes and Ndungane
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 5) : NO WAIT!
I just remembered that Bismarck du Plessis was one of them!!!!!
For those interested, the 13 players signed by Putt were:
1. Danie Saayman
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Skipper Badenhorst
4. Callie Wannenburg
5. Braam Immelman
6. Jacques Botes
7. Jaco Gouws
8. Ruan Pienaar
9. Jacques Schutte
10. Gcobani Bobo
11. Dean Hall
12. Odwa Ndungane
13. Tshepo Kokoali
5 boks in that list
So old Putt should have gone with talent scout rather than coach
@war1 (Comment 11) : 2 had already been Boks by the time he signed them
@robdylan (Comment 9) : That would have been my pick.
@lostfish (Comment 14) : sorry, at the time, I completely forgot him
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : don’t think he was any good as a scout signing 13 players and only 6n of them was worth anything.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : which two was bokke Bobo and Hall?