Heinrich Brüssow has indicated that he will be leaving South Africa for the latter part of the season, playing in Japan rather than playing Currie Cup rugby.
The Volksblad website reports that Brüssow will join a Japanese club after the conclusion of this year’s Super Rugby season. He will, however, return to play for the Cheetahs in next year’s Super Rugby campaign. Whether he remains with the team after that, remains to be seen.
Brüssow’s decision to play in Japan rules him out of Springbok selection, which could not have been an easy decision, but rather a decision that was made on his behalf.

I can’t believe Heyneke Meyer just decided that Brussouw is not worth selection at all. He was even better for the Boks than he ever was for the Cheetahs. He was made for that 6 jersey. It’s just amazing that the problem used to be, what are we going to do when Schalk Burger returns, never is he really the best for this position, but Meyer seems to be looking at any player, but Brussouw.
Last year Marcell and Daniel played at 6, both players not nearly as suited to that position as Brussouw is.
The mind baffles really.
And Meyer hasn’t really given any explanation yet.
Guess he’ll now be considered for Springbok selection. 🙄
@Letgo (Comment 1) : I think it’s a good move. We don’t need quality players in SA. Why should we be competitive in the RC and in internationals?? 👿
@ChrisS (Comment 3) : Exactly, we need to have our Bok team in the same frame as our ODI cricket team.
@Uli (Comment 4) : It’s ridiculous!!
Brussouw is regarded as one of the best fetchers in the world!
The Ozzie and All Black coaches said, in 2009, that he’d changed the way the Boks played their rugby and had made us a more complete side. Now we leave him out and sacrifice our advantage. He and Flouw would be amazing in tandem!
At least he’ll be big in Japan.
I apologise.
Uli I fully agree. Let’s not forget that Flouw was also an afterthought last year and played so well as to make it impossible to exclude him.
Our coaches don’t know what’s expected from an open-side flank because we don’t even know which number he’s supposed to play under 😈
@Uli (Comment 4) : Or better still,n like their fellow international representatives, bafana bafana… 👿
Brussow is leaving because he was miss informed by Heineke’s management team to inform him of his omission from the team before hand. It happen in bad taste after good talks between brussow and Heineke during the year. Brussow basically just said screw this I need to get out of here for a bit. it’s only for one season missing the currie up.
Back for super season, just to add all coaches are tools, as a player they always promise the world and deliver if they want to…..it’s the old story of telling 10 players in the same position you are the best! We believe in you, you are the future and then turning around making the player feels like the poor coach didn’t have a choice. Many of that has been going around at the sharks with the junior players. Lets be fair not all coaches do it, but I promise all have done it before. And if you as a player can’t trust your boss, WTF….why hang around [email protected]ChrisS (Comment 5) : @Uli (Comment 4) :
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : Don’t apologise. It’s compulsory to make the big in japan quip whenever someone leaves to go and play there. 😆
@ChrisS (Comment 5) :
That was four years ago, and he’s pretty much been injured since then.
Anyway, Flouw is the incumbent and Kolisi is the pretender.
And dont forget – we still have Stegmann lol.
And Coetzee. (Less of a laugh)
There is no place for Brussouw at the moment. It was anyway just a matter of time before somebody copied his fetching skills, but was bigger and stronger and able to add something else to the pack dynamic.
@vanmartin (Comment 6) :
I dont even think he’ll be more than average size there either… 😉
Interesting piece on supersport site by Gary Gold about the breakdown and fetching business. Should explain in some way why brussouw doesn’t get picked.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 13) : lekker to see you last night, boyks 🙂
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : It’s not gonna be easy..
@VinChainSaw (Comment 13) : Heyneke, is that you? 😈
@robdylan (Comment 15) :
You too my man, sorry I couldnt stay longer!
@vanmartin (Comment 17) :
Hehe. To be fair though – when the Bok pack is huddled, he does look awfully small!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 18) : no woriies bro. Did you get my BBM request?
Sharks must sign him!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
Ja I got it, but i still cant seem to log-on.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 22) : blackberry ID issues?
@robdylan (Comment 23) :
Ja. First my Id wasnt associated with my phone, now it wont recognise the password or the recovery answer. *sigh*