According to Facebook, young Sharks wing-cum-fullback Alcino Izaacs will leave Durban to join up with Tukkies ahead of the 2016 Varsity Cup.
The 22-year-old, who has been on the fringes of the senior squad for the last two years, was not named in the provisional Super Rugby training squad and appears to have slipped back in the number 15 pecking order behind Leopards player Rhyno Smith. The Sharks obviously also have Willie le Roux and Joe Pietersen available as fullback options for the upcoming campaign. His chances of game time at wing weren’t looking any better, with phenomenal young Sbusiso Nkosi coming in to take perhaps the only spare place in a cupboard that’s already pretty full.
Namibian Izaacs joined the Sharks Academy after school and represented the under 19 side in 2012. He won the Academy’s prize for “Most Improved Player” that year, and played under 21 rugby in 2013 and 2014. He also picked up 14 Vodacom Cup caps for the Sharks XV between 2014 and 2015. That maiden senior cap, however, remained elusive and Izaacs now looks set to try to play his way into the Bulls group via strong performances for Tukkies in 2016.
We’d like to thank Cino for his efforts in the black and white and wish him all the best for his future.
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I think bad move by Cino, Bulls have brilliant big backs, specially wing and FB
@sharks_lover (Comment 1) : To be honest, he’s probably just looking for a bit of exposure at this point. Varsity Cup can lead to a contract elsewhere, not necessarily at the Bulls.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : god damn impi! I hope we are promoted next year. How come the original first ever varsity cup didn’t even have a kzn team? If not ukzn we should have had varsity college
Good move on his part. He recognised that he has hit a ceiling at the Sharks. The Tuks Varsity Cup side will give him good exposure. Is Rhyno Smit still on trial? or is it a permanent move yet? I think he is very similar to Willie LeRoux so could learn a lot…very talented.
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : he’s still around, but I don’t think he’s been contracted. In reality, I think we need more players like Izaacs to move on in order to free up funds to contract the likes of Smith.
All the best Alcino.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Yeh fair call on that funds point. You see SP Marais now out in the cold at Kings? He is a player a team like the Pumas could use.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : But then why are there complaints when we let go of these players? More players should be let go of.
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : probably a few more on that list Visser, Roos, Engelbrecht, Fuzani (hopefully to replace a departing Giant…)
Griquas and Boland could also look for a few cheap buys…
I have legal knowledge but could the EPRFU mgmt not be personally targeted by these newly signed players for making false representation?
Did anyone else see how reluctant Capt Luke was to support his team mates at the handover of the players demands / petition? Tough situation going against daddy but still poor form
@Kabouter (Comment 9) : Yeh definitely some of those players could make big differences to sides like Griquas/Leopards etc. In terms of players holding EP management responsible- its a tough one to prove as players will have to prove that management could reasonably foresee that the players signed would not get paid and then contracts cancelled. Its also not EP cancelling the contracts but SARU…a tricky one legally. SARu has a lot on its plate with new Bok coach selection/ EP Kings disaster/Search for Bok sponsors/ Search for new CC sponsor
Best of luck Cino! Thanks for your service at the Sharks.
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : It’s almost like South African rugby is badly run and in trouble….
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : time to earn those salaries…
@Kabouter (Comment 13) : Agreed! @Seth101 (Comment 12) : I get the feeling that they chaps at SARU try to please everyone instead of focussing on the important issues and telling those sticking their noses in where to take a hike. Trying to please everyone will only lead to all round average…
@SheldonK (Comment 14) : I get the feeling they are miss guided on what the important issues are, over and above being greedy and incompetent.
@Seth101 (Comment 15) : Cannot argue with that feeling