The Cheetahs are going against the norm in actually signing players from the Japanese League, instead of announcing that players are leaving our shores.
The Toyota Cheetahs and the Japanese team Toyota Verblitz are in a friendly association based on their common sponsorship. This has resulted in the Cheetahs being able to call upon two Japanese players, Prop Yosuke Takahashi and Fullback Yoshizumi Takeda. The players look set to join the Cheetash on a temporary basis until June.
Apart from their sponsorship, the other link is the fact that Os du Randt is the forwards coach of the Toyota Verblitz team, and you have to think that he has his hand in helping his old team back in Bloemfontein.
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Crazy to think that we are now in the same position as Australia, where we have to import players to fill our Super Rugby teams.
A sign that we can’t fill 6 teams with only South Africans, or is it that we have already lost too many players to Europe?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 1) : a bit of both, I’d say.
We really can only field four teams of decent quality at this level. I still think this competition should have been set up in two tiers.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 1) : @robdylan (Comment 2) : Do you guys perhaps not think this is more about creating a good relationship than an actual urgent requirement and need for those players?
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : it’s quite possible, yes
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Would still be interesting to see them play
The reds signed goromaru.highlanders had the japanese no9.rebels have the japanese wing.this is pro-sport.
@SheldonK (Comment 4) :
Yeah look, I see where you are coming from, it’s not like the Cheetahs need these players and it remains to be seen if they even actually play in Super rugby, it may just be to give them additional game time during the pointless Currie Cup games.
Much like the Lions sent a few players to play in Japan instead of playing Currie Cup last year, so as to gain some other experience..
@50shadesofshark (Comment 7) :
Yes, we are not disputing that.
The question was whether it is an indication of a bigger problem, and clearly it can be answered as NO.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : I think this could actually be a smart move and perhaps an indication of more strategic relationships in the future. Dual sponsorship of both a Jap and Sa team will reap rewards as the sa sides now also play in japan during super rugby so can create a following/player share etc. Players going to Japan during offseason can be better managed with sharing of information etc. I know we arent there yet but i do see possibilities
So now we know who the 2 naughty boys in the Verblitz side are – 2 months banishment in Bloem will sort them out chop chop.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 11) : I thought Bloem had the prettiest uh… ‘flowers’ in all the land.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 11) : Dont think there is much sushi in Bloem haha
@vanmartin (Comment 12) : Nothing wrong with Bloem for a night, when you are a South African but when you are Japanese citizen and the cherry trees are starting to blossom back home……hmmmm.
Them flowers are called “roses”
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : Biltong – matured (petrified?) sushi.
We have some Chinese friends we met a few years ago in Malaysia. We took over some biltong as a gag gift on one of our visits with the idea of shocking them with the thought of “dried raw meat is our cultural delicacy”. They polished it all in one night and whenever they come visit us they basically subsist on the stuff for the duration of their visit.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 14) : 😀
@vanmartin (Comment 15) : haha u have created a monster haha
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 11) : @vanmartin (Comment 12) : @SheldonK (Comment 13) : stop bashing my Provincial capital!!!!! Bloem has al the newest technology like robots, streetlights, Telkom internet, etc!!! 😈
@JD (Comment 18) : lived there for a few years growing up. Still have a soft spot for the place to be honest.
@JD (Comment 18) : Ja I can just imagine, at home games the Bloem faoihful will bring all their damaged electronical / computer goods and ask these guys to fix them at their meet and greet sessions after the game.
@JD (Comment 18) : Lets be honest most people there are still trying to figure out which part of Jhb the Sunwolves are from 😉
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 20) : don’t be silly. The meat and greet session after the game is for BBBC (Braaivleis, Bier, Brannas & Coke)!! 😈
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : I read that players going to Japan in the off-season is no longer a thing and that they will only be willing to sign permanent contracts. So there won’t be much benefit there.
@Seth101 (Comment 23) : is that a league decision or just some teams?
@JD (Comment 24) : League I believe.
@Seth101 (Comment 25) : that could work both ways as some of their top players like Goromaru might decide to play permanently outside Japan.
@JD (Comment 26) : Call me pessimistic, but I think we will lose a hell of a lot more talent to permanent Jap contracts than we will gain (personally don’t see us gaining anything).
@Seth101 (Comment 27) : Ya shew thats quite a development.
@SheldonK (Comment 28) : @JD (Comment 26) : I actually found what I read and I was off, my apologies.
So apparently contracted Boks will not be allowed to play there in the off season.
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/no-more-japan-stints-for-boks/
@Seth101 (Comment 29) : I was quite a bit off, the case definitely not as bad a I thought.
I think that it will still have a negative effect, because unless players with Bok contracts get more money from SARU, they will not just let go of the extra cash from Japan, and instead opt for more money from Europe.
Japanese rugby money has helped us keep a lot of players in SA, without it I think Europe becomes even more inviting.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 7) : And the Chiefs has a Japanese proo
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 31) : Prop
@Seth101 (Comment 29) : Ah ok i had read that article too. Makes sense for contracted Boks…but then as you say their pay packet needs to be large. And remember they can always turn it down. Wonder which players this really currently affects?
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Yup…
So why are these two players not already playing for the Sunwolves?
Can you imagine if the Sunwolves had managed to attract the “Japanese national team” as the Jaguars have done? They’d be decent.
@Sharks_have_Character! (Comment 35) : They’re pretty decent as it stands….they nearly beat the tsietas, and they’ll definitely beat the Kings.
That’s not bad for a fairly green SR team.
@SheldonK (Comment 28) : @Seth101 (Comment 29) : hahaha OK.
@Sharks_have_Character! (Comment 35) : shit imagine it as they beat the Bokke so no SA side would have had a chance to beat them!!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 36) : @Sharks_have_Character! (Comment 35) : must say I did think they would have had more Japanese international players.
@JD (Comment 38) : the way the Boks play sometimes I think even the Cheetahs could beat them quite often.
@Sharks_have_Character! (Comment 40) : ja well that’s also true. ;-P
@Sharks_have_Character! (Comment 40) :
