The Sharks have confirmed that Tim Swiel will play for Harlequins in the UK for the next four month, as part of a loan deal agreed with the Twickenham club.
Swiel is no stranger to the UK, having been born in Taunton in Somerset and the fact that he holds a British passport makes this sort of short-term move far more viable than it would be otherwise. With the young player having battled with injury and thus missing out on much Currie Cup game time, all parties felt that a good block of time on the field would be the best thing for Tim right now.
Tim arrived in the UK last weekend and will remain at Harlequins until February, at which point he will return to the Sharks for Super Rugby.
Good luck, Tim – we hope it goes well.
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Nice, the Harlequins train at my club sometimes 😀
@David12246 (Comment 1) : what club is that?
Awesome for swiel! Great to see some loan deals coming through
I wonder if he will come back…only returning in Feb probably means he wont feature in Super rugby much unless there injuries. With Nick Evans at Quins I wonder if and where he will play
@David12246 (Comment 1) : University of Surrey
Think it will be good for the young man!!!!! Good luck Tim!!!!
Don’t Some top players in the UK want to be loaned to the SHarks for SR
Is there a chance that Swiel may not come back to the Sharks? As I understand it he has aspirations to play for England one day.
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : I think that maybe a lot has been read into an event…. namely Tim opting not to play SA under 20 in order to keep his options open.
I don’t think he’s ever expressed so much as an “aspiration” to play for England. Just that he doesn’t see why he should shut that door. I would imagine he has a stronger aspiration to play for the Boks.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : At the moment he should aspire to make the Sharks side first…
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : yes well….
@robdylan (Comment 9) : I probably fell for the media hype in that case.
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : @robdylan (Comment 11) :
Good News.
Hope he comes back a much improved player!
I have a feeling he will stay in the UK. The Sharks have hardly embraced his talents……something the Sharks have a habit of doing with talented players
True, but then we havent exactly been exposed to those talents.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) :
@Saffex (Comment 14) :
Will depend on how it goes i think.
If he gets short thrift like MS in France, then maybe not.
That said, for a young and talented player, that is where the smart money is. More cash and less games in a season. There’s also less contact as its a more tactical slower game in the Premiership.
Good luck to Tim! Hope the break from Durban works out for him, sometimes a different environment does a world of good. It took a change of coaching to get the best of many players (as criticized as White is, something clicked with Sithole). I’d love to see Swiel back in Feb after a few months of solid rugby and a clear head.
Can some one please enlighten me ,Brendan Venter is contracted to two unions the Sharks and Saracens,Both unions are so dependant on his talent that they are prepared to settle for half his time,rather than not have him at all.At both unions he is the top tactical man,and has the final say on the game plan.
Here’s my question,if the Sharks are prepared to release Swiel for a British sojourn,why doesn’t he go to Saracens.He would be playing in a similar system,and his game would be much more in keeping with the Sharks game when he comes back.
Or am I missing some thing here.
@The hound (Comment 19) : Because Saracens don’t have a place for him and harlequins do. Why pay for a player you don’t need?
Glad for Tim and hope this is a good opportunity for him to be exposed to a different atmosphere, grow and build up some confidence, coming into the S15 next year.
@The hound (Comment 19) :
Would be great for the Sharks, but whats in it for Saracens?
They’re the top English club and have Farrell, starting English flyhalf, as well as Charlie “Mr. Reliability” Hodgson on their books.
Along with that they have young Nils Mordt, the Enlgand Saxons flyhalf.
Yup, Nils is family of Ray.
So there’s really just no place for Swiel at Saracens.
Never convinced of his special talent? He struggled. 1. Lambie, 2. Fred (look after him he will leave) 3. Lionel and then Tim ?
we should have never let the young du Preez go. He is going to be good.
@Observer (Comment 23) : Tim as a counter-attacking fullback?
@robdylan (Comment 24) : @Observer (Comment 23) : I agree ,this is more hype than substance,he cost the Sharks 3 SR games,Van T should be FINALY given a chance
@VinChainSaw (Comment 22) : So basically what you are saying is Brendan really couldn’t swing it at Sarries,or is it because Swiel was Jakes protege who he brought from U.C.T.
I always thought Robert du Preez was just loaned to Maties,is he now officially off our books.
@The hound (Comment 26) :
Nah, no comment on Venter. Have met him a few times and have great admiration for the guy. He, more than anybody else, is probably responsible for where Sarries are today, from a playing perspective.
Just saying that there is no upside for Sarries in taking on Swiel. Their cupboard is full with proven flyhalves, to the extent they dont need to shopping around Durban looking for talent.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 27) : whereas Quins, on the other hand, have a short-term injury situation that they need cover for.
No brainer.
@robdylan (Comment 28) :
Yeah exactly.
And lets be honest – Quins have been pretty rubbish for several seasons now.
Much more likely that Swiel will get some game time there than at Saracens, who are one of the top clubs in Europe, where he’d be fourth in line for a start.
@Observer (Comment 23) : Rubbish – Swiel is better than Fred and Cronje
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Lack “Cahunnas” – Bit soft. How about Fred at flyhalf and Pat at fullback with lionel on the bench ?
@Observer (Comment 31) : I really hope you are joking,the only place for Pat is 10,even HM can see that took him a bit of time,but he’s finally come around.He needs to be left there to hone his game.I look forward to seeing him in partnership with Wright or Ungerer.
@The hound (Comment 26) : He was initially only loaned to Maties for the duration of the Varsity Cup. He made an immediate impression, WP managed to get him released from his Sharks obligations and he signed a 2 year contract with them.
@Saffex (Comment 30) : lol do you just enjoy being different or do u have a nack for seeing what no one else can?? All the hype u guys had bout him initially when the news broke that he was coming here died quickly. Maybe he was great in cpt but at the sharks he was a dud in virtually every game. And no ways is he better then fred even this cronje oukie is better then him here in durbs. Maybe that talent u talk about wil be realized under gold though hey. Maybe he just didnt gel with jakes style.
@Saffex (Comment 30) : Bwahaha !
I didn t realise you re overseas and haven t seen any of the sharks matches this year!
Surely that s the only explanation you can offer for that ridiculous statement?
Brilliant concept if executed properly. I hope it doesn’t have a lot of Gary Gold influence though. He once lent Nick Koster out & we almost never heard of him again. Hope this move is fruitful though.
@Saffex (Comment 30) : What has Swiel shown us at top level that makes you say that?
@David12246 (Comment 37) : LOL the thing about Saffex is that he has no real knowledge about Rugby, but posts in a tone that he is the be all and end all. The tone of his posts are also very condescending, which just means I take nothing he says seriously. In common American parlance, he would be referred to as an asshat. 😉
😛
@Observer (Comment 23) : Fred is third on that list and is in danger of being overtaken by Tim (I think Tim must focus on 15). With Brendan back the guys will get coaching and their natural talents will come out.
@Observer (Comment 31) : Stop it.
Fred was one of the jw(ahole) casualties!
Watch this space as Brendon/Gary help him back to his full potential/form as when we won the CC. 😛
@The hound (Comment 32) : Pesonally i don’t think HM is convinced yet, judging from the squad he chose 4 this end of year tour. With MS, Johan and pollard at FH its clear lambie is going to cover fullback from the bench with his golden boy le roux getting the lions share of the playing time there. Why else would he put four flyhalfs in the squad if he isnt planning to use pat as a bench warmer for willie. The only time pat will play FH wil be when goose gets injured and old age catch up with steyn.
@Stiko85 (Comment 42) : Not true. HM has specifically said that Goosen is being picked as a 15.
@jonnow (Comment 43) : Ok i apologize. Have to admit i didnt read the post about the team and there positions before hand. I just hope he sticks with that decision then. Lambie and pollard has been pretty awesome
@Stiko85 (Comment 44) : naughty naughty 🙂