Following a tough year of limited Super Rugby action with the Sharks, rumour has it that Ryan Kankowski is done with rugby in South Africa.
According to a report on Rugby365.com, Kankowski has made himself available for the Springbok Sevens squad to play in the Sevens World Cup in Moscow, following which he will leave South Africa.
Kankowski, who has a contract to play in Japan following the completion of the Super Rugby season, could well start looking for a spot in Europe after his exclusion from the Springbok squad announced on Saturday evening.
In the article, Heyneke Meyer is quoted as having had a discussion with Kankowski and mentions that the player will play Sevens. Meyer went on to say that the player is unsure of his future, and that he (Meyer) wants to pick players who are going to stay in South Africa.
Kankowski would be a great addition to the Blitzbokke, although he hasn’t played Sevens in a while, he has the speed and strength to do well.
Kankowski’s relationship with Sharks coach John Plumtree has soured during the year, and it would not surprise me if we have seen the last of Kankowski in a Sharks jersey.
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What a pity.
Sad way for a true Sharks player to leave. He deserved better! Shame on the Sharks.
If this is all true, and the coach has some sort of sourness towards him, I have one thing to say…
[email protected]#$ck You Plumtree!
Thank you very much Plumtree! Now bugger off! Your work here is no longer needed! 👿
I really hope Smit speaks to him before he makes this decision. A huge player to lose.
@PTAShark (Comment 5) : i reckon if plum goes, kanko might stay. Pretty sure they wont renew Plums contract. Why would they?
I wish somebody can get to the bottom of whom exactly has been responsible for the exodus of quality players from the Sharks – to my mind it’s either Plum or Straueli.
So I’m told that Kanky plans to have a no-holds-barred chat with all the stakeholders once Smit takes over…. to try and thrash out a way forward before deciding to leave. I really hope that’s true.
A big loss. The way he has been treated belongs in a “how not to coach” case study.
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
I hope so too, it’s a disgraceful way to treat one of your best and most loyal players.
“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
-Vince Lombardi
Basically Plum, people who work together will win, not people who treat their star players like dogsh!t. I dont even know the details, maybe Kanko did something terrible. But the way you handled it reflects on your leadership
My very first favorite Sharks player from when I started following rugby (2006). Sad to see him leave but if he comes to Europe, I have a new destination for my rugby holidays… Ulster is getting a bit boring after seeing them lose finals year after year 😉
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 12) : Too many Sharks players at Ulster 😆
Come on Plum.
You really think Daniel is a better 8 than Kanko?
This is a massive loss.
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Yeah. This would be the final straw for me. Plum, pack your bags and leave, you f*#%tard.
Poor Kanko must be at a real low. Plays a few games for the Sharks,gets discarded. Gets a call up to the greater Bok training group, gets discarded then gets the recommendation to go and play 7s.
Kyk nou asb hou op so vloek man kyk hoe gan julle an julle is niks beter as plum nie ja dit is nie sy jaar vir rugby nie mar julle moet nie so vloek nie
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Jeez I hope so. If I had to choose between Plum and Kanko I’d go with Kanko.
No innovation in the Sharks for how long? But Kanko is held accountable for being out of form and dropped while our great and illustrious captain is out of form as well as suffering from some form of amnesia when it comes to the laws of the game he plays.
Come on Plumtree! You have lost one of the Sharks’ best players, all because of your petty pride. Get out of South Africa!
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Share away. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/PetitionToHaveJohnPlumtreeRemovedAsSharksCoach
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Rob, your inside titbits are usually spot on – I really hope this comes off and he stays. And I really hope we get a new coaching staff as soon as S15 ends. The new boys can cut their teeth on Currie Cup.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : I’d be ecstatic if Kanko stays and most of the coaching staff goes. Pretty sure if it came to Kanko vs Plum, most would choose Kanko!
@flaffie.22 (Comment 17) : So you happy with the results?
You sound like Plum at a post match interview…
Plumtree on his way out! How I wish this was the case!!
Hang on…
Meyer wants to pick players who is going to stay in South Africa.
Let me go look at the Bok squad again…
@Morné (Comment 25) : Bunch of politicians these modern day coaches, nothing more.
guys, please…. I know we’re angry, but don’t stay stuff here that you wouldn’t say to John Plumtree’s face.
I’m going to edit some of these comments.
@robdylan (Comment 27) : Some of these fellas might just be willing to say these things to Plums face 😈
@FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : nah – there’s not a keyboard crusader here who would say that to Plumtree. You seen the size of him?
@robdylan (Comment 27) : As if, Plumtree would put most on their arses pronto.
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
That is a big boy there. Looks fit enough to step back onto the field of play to.
Kanko in bok sevens squad.
@John Galt (Comment 14) : that to me is also something I question. KD has had a free ride this season.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : Yep.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : I’ve been known to field a proper klap or two for my opinions in the past 😯
@Big Fish (Comment 9) : And, as you know, it started with Pdivvie. Had Kanko holding tackle bags, played him out of position, dropped him… And now it is happening at home too.
Not all of us ‘keyboard crusaders’ are small okes. Probably a fair bunch that could be big guys 😈
@SteelShark (Comment 36) : how big are you? 🙂
Apparently Kanko is in talks with WP for a move to Newlands.
Look at my avatar 😉
Can Plum just go? pls.
@DBOY (Comment 38) : Would not be a wise move at all. He wont budge Vermeulen and I think Carr would also be ahead of him.
@Salmonoid (Comment 41) : I think it’s just some leverage. Makes no sense to go there and sit behind Vermeulen.
@robdylan (Comment 42) : Do you know whether he has played any form of rugby in the last 6 weeks?
Sounds like a rather classic example of FJELN.
Well according to the sharks twitter feed and news24 kanko and s’bo made the bok 7’s side
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 45) :
It’s only a training squad.
@Pokkel (Comment 46) : sorry might help if I read the hole article was so happy for his sake didn’t read the hole thing my bad
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) : well, he played two vodacom cup games
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Any club rugby?
@Salmonoid (Comment 49) : I don’t actually believe so, no
Has anybody at least entertained the possibility that Kanko just has a bit of a kak attitude?
I know its not fashionable to crit a player and all crit is to be reserved for the sole consumption of the Plumtree, but shouldnt it at least be considered?
And now he’s not getting selected he wants to take his ball and go play with the little guys (Japanese and Sevens) again?
Just playing devil’s advocate here a bit…
Even if Kanko had a kak attitude…the way this situation was handles leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I watched the S15 games Kanko played early this year, too be honest he wasnt half as bad as Daniel. I have always rated Kanko. If he leaves…Plum should be next. Come on Barney…u.said some tough choices will be made, i hope this is one of them.
Being 6th/8th/10th every year in S15 simply aint good enough anymore. Injuries you tell me…? Why loan loosies when you have Kanko. Plum go back to NZ
@VinChainSaw (Comment 51) : It has crossed my mind.