After initially deciding to not include him in their small and select Super Rugby group, the SARU-controlled Southern Kings have relented and offered loose forward Jacques “Vleis” Engelbrecht a contract for the 2016 competition.
Engelbrecht, a physical player who moved around a fair bit early in his career after failing to break through in his native Western Province, came to prominence at SWD in his early twenties, with his strong performances and nifty ball skills winning him selection to the SA Sevens team. A trial run with the Sharks didn’t amount to anything, but Engelbrecht then moved on to EP, going on to start in 15 matches for the newly-promoted franchise in the 2013 Super Rugby series.
His subsequent fall from grace was symptomatic of what happened to so many of the Kings “class of 2013”; with the team’s immediate relegation from the competition, Engelbrecht joined a host of others in signing for the Bulls, only to sink without trace into the swamp of Vodacom Cup anonymity. He returned to the Bay for Currie Cup last year, claiming that the Bulls move was the worst decision he’d ever made. All appeared to be onset for a career revival back where he’d played his best rugby, only for the Kings’ financial crisis to seemingly scupper his plans yet again.
With one last lifeline thrown to the 30-year-old, you can be sure that Vleis (who presumably hasn’t seen a salary in 3 months or more) will certainly be hungry to make the most of this campaign.
“Jacques made a significant impact in our debut 2013 campaign and we are looking forward to the positive contributions he will bring to the team as we return to the Super Rugby stage,” said Suthern Kings COO Charl Crous.
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“Vleis (who presumably hasn’t seen a salary in 3 months or more) will certainly be hungry to make the most of this campaign.”
Well done !!! 😆
@Zibbie (Comment 2) : thanks 🙂
I can see quite an interesting team combo for the first game vs the Sharks…
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : What lineup are you expecting?
Good luck to Vleis! Together with a passionate”harumph” to all the darn administrators that brought things to the altogether unsatisfactory situation at the Kings…
@StevieS (Comment 5) : With the guys they have signed it could be quite interesting. Hard to tell really but some interesting names. I looked at the squad and tried to pick but really not sure..especially as there quite a few on trial etc
Must say was strange to not see him in the original list of players. Think for the Kings it’s a good move!!!!!!! As to moving to the Bulls think it’s never a good move to make!!!!!!!! 😈
@JD (Comment 8) : Have to agree with all of your points!
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : I’m just finding it hard to wrap my head around them still having trials.
You have a good rugby knowledge, so I was keen to pick your brain on what you thought their team would be.
@StevieS (Comment 9) : They clearly have positions where that still have to recruit!
@StevieS (Comment 9) : If i had to have a somewhat educated guess: Props:Schalk Ferreira, Tom Botha, Monde Hadebe, Edgar Marutile, Jacobie Adriaanse. Locks: Steven Sykes, Cornell Hess Loose Forwards: Jacques Engelbrecht, Themalani Bholi, Aidon Davids 9: Kevin Luiters, James Hall 10. Louis Fouche Centres: Stefan Watermeyer, JP Duplessis, Luzuko Vulindlu Wings: Siyanda Grey, Malcom Jaer 15: Elgar Watts…something like that
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : One thing we need to keep in mind, SARU can call on the 7’s players, so I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Tim Agaba, Kankowski, the other back, was it Sylvian Mahuza, and Hougaard could all still turn out for the Kings in Super Rugby.
@StevieS (Comment 12) : Yeh it is quite tricky to figure out who all is in the reckoning. I cant see guys like Hougie, Kanko etc playing but who knows. Guess we will only really know when team announced before sharks game. I suppose even the Sharks arent fully sure of who exactly will play that game either…many possibilities depending who is available etc
@StevieS (Comment 12) : What an ingenious way to expose one’s nationally contracted Sevens players to injury :roll:. I’d imagine you nationally contract these players in the first place to ensure they’re fresh and minimise the risk of injury. It boggles my mind that SARU are even considering this but maybe it’s media speculation for all we know.
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : You know it’s risky, and I know it’s risky, but does SARU know it’s risky? Or the better question is: do they care?
He is a tough as nails player. Good head too. Kings will definitely benefit from his presence.
Really and what about the salaries still unpaid ,where Watson to fix this,what an absolute disgrace and further this is SR ,the Kings at best Vodacom Cup material,so now what?
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : @vanmartin (Comment 14) : @StevieS (Comment 15) : calm down boys key players like Koch, Africa, etc will not play for the Kings but fringe players will for sure play for them to ensure they’re fit and in form or what do you expect these players like Kanko (who to date have not featured in any 7’s comp) to do all year? Would you preferred if they were on a paid vacation for the rest of the year?
@JD (Comment 18) : Paid by who cause that could yurn ugly again
@benji (Comment 19) : turn
@benji (Comment 19) : the contracted 7’s players are getting paid by SARU (and not the unions). SARU is also paying the rest of the Kings squad so basically 7’s squad and Kings work for the same employer they just work in two different departments.
@JD (Comment 18) : I’d imagine SARU had a plan to keep those players in form before the Kings debacle came around. Stick to that. There’s far greater risk of season-ending injuries in the 15 man code. If SARU really didn’t have a plan for them the loan them to provincial union’s Seven’s side so that they can pick experience in Sevens.
@vanmartin (Comment 22) : yes that would be ideal but how many 7’s tournaments are there in SA? Don’t know how SARU planned to keep them fit but most likely they will be playing for the Kings and no amount of moaning will change that so for me it’s just better to let it go!!!
@JD (Comment 23) : I think it’s important to question the logic behind the decision (if it is indeed true) even though that line of questioning will in know way affect the outcome. Why do I persist? It touches on a number of issues: the viability of the Kings as a franchise going forward but even more importantly, how SARU will manage centrally contracted players in the future. Central contracting works wonders for New Zealand but if South Africa only honour the concept in name at this stage, it sets a dangerous precedent.
@vanmartin (Comment 24) : From how I’ve seen saru handling this whole kings saga (basically hi-jacking the franschise), and how they’ve dealt with their contracted players – I’ve come to the conclusion that our rugby is best served by players contracted to their unions.
Too many ulterior motives at work at saru, which seems geared toward self-preservation at all costs, whilst ignoring the need to strive for being the best in the world.
In my humble opinion off course. 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 25) : I want to disagree with you because I hate the idea of going through another year of watching overplayed Springboks and reading about more season-ending injuries. If however, SARU go through with this idea it certainly raises my scepticism.
@JD (Comment 18) : There are a lot of guys in the extended 7s program that dont play 15s at all. They spend the year training and playing in 7s and 10s tournaments outside of the world series. So its not like those not playing in the world series just twiddle their thumbs
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : Except now they are forced onto a format they didn’t want or choose in the first place.
@coolfusion (Comment 28) : I still cant see many turning out unless there are injuries. But will see. There are some seriously talented guys in the extended squad
@vanmartin (Comment 24) : there’s no logic behind this whole thing so would be a waste of time to look for it!!!!
Nothing against the Kings but I personally feel SA already had to many teams and by adding the sixth team the lack of quality players playing in SA will only be highlighted more!!!!
Central contracting in SA will never work as in SA the tail wags the dog!!!! I think small unions have to much say in how rugby will be controlled!!!
@JD (Comment 30) : we don’t have a lack of quality players to field 6 teams;rather,we lack a strong economy to retain players at home for longer.imagine if the sharks could have had bj botha ,butch james and john smit for the 2008 sr season?instead ,we lost them to the euro and the pound.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 31) : that’s why I made the “playing in SA” comment. Yes SA produce a lot of talented players but the exodus of players are just as high and unfortunately that’s not going to change!!! I personally think the way things are going currently it will get even worse.