Marcell Coetzee will leave the Sharks on conclusion of Super Rugby 2016 to take up a three-year deal with Irish club Ulster.
In a statement released by the Sharks a few minutes ago, Director of Rugby Gary Gold said that “Marcell has made a significant contribution in recent seasons but we understand the appeal of the huge salaries on offer in Europe. He will be missed, and yet his departure will create new opportunities for the group of outstanding loose forwards emerging in our squad.
“Marcell is fully committed for Super Rugby, and will captain the Cell C Sharks team in the match against Toulouse this evening.”
I’m sure there will be much to say about this in the weeks to come, but for now, I’d like to echo Gold’s sentiments and thank Marcell for his service. He’s always given his all in the jersey and we will certainly miss him next year.
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Rob I see that new zealand will not be punished in anyway shape or form for fielding 8 players in the conclusion of the investigation! Your thoughts?
Just got to think when Lambie will leave… or is he 1 of the few that is there for the game?
@Poisy (Comment 1) : Lets try putting 18 on the field against Crusaders…lol
Nooooooooooooo… 😥
Thanks for all the joy, Marcell…but I am seriously bummed…
@Poisy (Comment 1) : tbh, I battle to get too worked up about it. Sevens is a festival sport….
@Poisy (Comment 1) : @robdylan (Comment 6) : Despite that it is pretty ridiculous though!
Look at the bright side, at least he is not going to Province…that would be too much… 😆
What shit news to start SR with. They must have thrown quite a few chequebooks in his direction to make it happen!
@robdylan (Comment 6) : @pastorshark (Comment 7) : its still ludacris that they don’t even get a fine, no other team could have had such luck, not that I’m implying it was luck
@Poisy (Comment 10) : I agree with you…ridiculous…
To me this is one of the biggest losses we could suffer. This time last year I was sure that Lambie, Marcell and a specific lock would be the leaders of a new generation of Sharks players and who we could build a great Sharks team around. We’ve lost 2 out of 3 of them now. I am so bummed by this 🙁
@Hulk (Comment 12) : If you referring to that blond kid, not such a big loss, the Sharks had to carry him for far too long, we have other great young guys we can build around
just made my day suck officially, but you can’t blame him I’m sure the money is great in sterling that side of the earth
Big loss but in professional sport money talks. Playing Super rugby shortens a player’s career and his earnings compared to playing in Europe. Really not a tough decision for the guys. Good luck to him and i hope he has a cracker 2016.
Heartbreaking news but completely understandable too. Wish you nothing but the best Marcell, it’s always been a pleasure watching you play for the Sharks.
in my opinion, it is a big loss for us, but we will rise above it again, with the guys we have that was behind him in the pecking order, for SA rugby might be the best thing Marcell has done, playing in Europe will hone his fetching and breakdown skills, I’m not a big Flo fan, but will have to admit that he has changed and improved a lot since joining Bath
not saying my goodbyes just yet.marcell will still be wearing the sharks jersey till the end of this sr season.make it a memorable one!!
Absolutely gutted. We have to remember Marcell enjoyed the benefits of a SARU and Sharks contract, yet still chose to leave….this must have alarm bells ringing loudly in the corridors of power at SARU…or it should have!
Shit! 👿
Must say it does open up a chunk of change in the player budget. Might need it to keep the Du preez twins around. Pretty sure they are going to be in high demand after SR
Noooooooo!!!!Honestly didn’t see this one coming! Make this one even more memorable Marcel! 😯
All leadership roles should be taken away, not out of spite, but because we need to build long term leaders, he is clearly not one.
The timing of this is just weird.
You will be missed, Marcell.
Really can’t blame him for leaving. The grass is indeed greener on the other side.
Not bad for a boytjie that couldnt even make the Craven Week side.
@grant10 (Comment 19) : This is true.
@Poisy (Comment 10) : first of all who is at fault when a team has more than the allowed number of players not that team but the official at the technical table before you may allow a sub onto the field you must be sure the substituted player is busy leaving or has left the field before allowing the player on to the field and secondly is there any video material of the incident because all I have seen is a suspect foto of low quality that could have easily been foto shopped
Also so much for having two contracts preventing it
money talks.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : sevens is no longer the festivals sport it used to be the separate sponsors the blitzboks have from the ” real” boks just shows how professional sport it had become, one of these days if not already more people will be watching sevens rather than 15 a side rugby because it is action packed and fast paced where as 15 a side tends to be dull compared to sevens and the so called smaller nations is catching up with the bigger nations a lot faster than in 15 a side exploiting new markets for sevens and thus more money sevens will become to rugby what t20 became of cricket
This is terrible news 🙁
@BR (Comment 30) : 7’s still bores the crap out of me,I agree with Rob on this one,to me it is a festival sport,have tried to watch a tournament or two,but cant even get through a whole match
Does this mean Ulster will buy him out of his current contract (that Rob mentioned runs till end of SR 2017)?
Thanks Heyneke!
I wish Marcel well – never gives less than his all.
@Bokhoring (Comment 33) : Unless there is a mutual agreement yup they will have to. Same with his Jap contract
Wonder how much Marcel’s decision had to do with the shabby way he was treated by Meyer leaving him out the World Cup squad.
The official story was that he was injured,but Willam Alberts was chosen and couldn’t get on the field till the third game.
Marcel was sacrificed to make a place for Schalk Burger.
He must have been seriously disillusioned,and realised that this game was about making as much money as he could in as short a time.
Playing in Ireland will prolong his career,and hey if playing overseas never stood in the way of Flo Louw and Ruan Pienaar’s Bok call ups why should it hinder him.
@BarendL (Comment 32) : just saying this “festival” sport will be where the money in rugby is going to be in the future esspicialy with the Olympic inclusion watch for a sevens series with a lot more rounds in the next 10 years or so, many people felt about t20 cricket like you feel about sevens but that didn’t stop it from taking the money away from tests and odi’s if you want to make big money in cricket these days become a t20 specialist same will happen with rugby
@BR (Comment 37) : valid points you raise….personally I enjoy the 7s far more than watching the European 15s rugby….
@The hound (Comment 36) : I dont think it was the entire contributing factor but i think being left out of the RWC could have put a Bok cap into perspective. And as you say playing overseas doesnt mean he cant play.
@The hound (Comment 36) : The way Marcell and Brussow were treated regarding the WC was scandalous…..no wonder they both going to be lost to SA rugby….
@BR (Comment 37) : All valid points. i think like cricket the purist fans will still prefer the 15s but the new age fans and those ‘non rugby’ people will prefer the 7s as its only 14min.
@SheldonK (Comment 41) : exactly, I will never give up 15 man rugby or odi’s test to be honest I only watch the first hour and the last hour hell I have watched Manchester United for 90 min at a time and the way they played rugby will have to become really bad before I give it up
The point I’m trying to make is calling the probable main income for rugby in 10 or so years a festivile sport is quite harsh
I kinda like the 10 a side game.
Even if Ulster didn’t offer him more than they did in, lets say November, the Rands recent devaluation would have made that same offer look just that much better.
It is concerning though that players are now already leaving before hitting the late 20’s and that with a Sharks and Sprinbok contract.
With all the SA based players involved in European rugby I really wish we can strike up a deal to start a competition in Europe. Even if it’s every second year.
Super Rugby is getting tired anyway, just adding more teams and no quality each year. We’ll probably start losing players earlier
Whats concerning is that people who have just renewed a contract are approached to breach (and are willing to) that contract.
@Southern_Shark (Comment 44) : ….something you have un commin with Heyneke Meyer : )
@FireTheLooser (Comment 47) : *in common
(Love the sharksworld app to bits, just wish it had the edit function….and line breaks)
Dis nou kak nuus!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 46) : good point….our Unions seem to allow there contracts to be walked all over….I wonder if the owner of Toulon would be so flexible?
@Letgo (Comment 45) : I have been an advocate of a European link up since day 1 ….it makes huge sense for a whole number of reasons…
@grant10 (Comment 50) : Ha, the French owners would not release foreign players for a RWC if they could get away with it. I have been saying for years that I see no point in any union in SA signing a player for more than one season, the way players are released makes the following years appear to be purely at the players option. I don’t see a point of a player signing a 2 or 3 year deal and then leaving after 1 year. What is the point for either side?
@grant10 (Comment 51) : Perhaps alternate 3 teams to play in Europe one year while the remaining 3 SA teams play SR, which could go back to being a Super15. Then the following year the other 3 teams play in Europe, etc. Each SA franchise gets exposure to both styles and conditions, reducing SR to a reasonable competition again. SA teams benefit, and SuperRugby benefits. Just a thought.
@SheldonK (Comment 41) : I know those 20 minute finals are intolerably long!!!
😈
Needless to say I am shattered as I for one, saw the potential from day one. Also always said to his dad that I see him as a captain. Quiet and calm leading by example. Like Teichman. But I understand his decision. Putting his body on the line over and over and then only hit by injury in the year that should have been one of his greatest. I fully support him and will keep on following his career. Strongs Marcell, jy is en sal altyd n yster bly. Jou geaardheid, jou respek en jou plat op die aarde persoonlikheid, sal jou gewild maak by enige span.
@grant10 (Comment 40) : You just hit the nail on the head.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 46) : @grant10 (Comment 50) : could be that the Sharks got a couple of Pounds to release him?!?!
Really sad day for me I was really hoping that this was just another rumour!!!! Best of luck Marcell and hope maybe one day you will find your way back to the Black and White!!!!
ok so who can step up at 6
keegans
klienhans
Majola (his good, but isnt he a 7)
who else. Or can we get chris cloete for 2017 ?
@JD (Comment 57) : They will surely have had to with more than a year still to go on his contract…
@revolverocelot (Comment 59) : Majola is definitely a 6 in our numbering and not a 7. Nobody can fill those shoes easily. It’s still a year away, so I reckon let’s just enjoy Marcell while we have him and see who puts his hand up. The Currie Cup will be a chance to see what’s on offer. How about we get Jaco Kriel (sorry Zibbie)?
What about Brussow?
@Southern_Shark (Comment 62) : Also an option, but is it long term? Does anyone know his age and condition? I think the last three months have shown us that our management know something about recruiting and I reckon they’ll have this in hand…
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@Ice (Comment 55) : Was hoping to read your input on the matter. Fully agreed by the way. As young as he is, he’ll leave as a Sharks legend in my opinion.
Heyneke chose Alberts, Schalk and kolisi ahead of marcel for the World Cup. I would be pissed and leave too, take a big pay cheque in Europe instead of grinding out super rugby only not too be picked
@Ice (Comment 55) : well said and thanks for confirming what I always believed about the youngman!!!!!!!!!! @vanmartin (Comment 65) : yes Sharks legend for sure!!!!!!!!