Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold was dealt a blow earlier this week, with his only experienced flyhalf Joe Pietersen opting to continue his career in Japan. The Sharks have moved quickly to plug the gap and have reportedly offered a contract to the architect of their 2007 Super Rugby demise, former Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard.
Hougaard, who has been out of the game for an extended period with various injuries, is apparently fully fit again and has been trying to get back into the Bulls setup, only to be thwarted due to a long line of quality young pivots on their books, as well as Francois Brummer and Tiaan Schoeman. With the Sharks desperate for another 30+ backline player (somebody has to partner Odwa Ndungane in the weekly age-group wrestling sessions), Gold has acted decisively and tied Hougaard up in a 4-year deal.
Whispers from Durban suggest that another former Bulls flyhalf, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, was also on Gold’s hit list, but that he couldn’t be brought in due an injunction taken out by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality some years back. It was felt that it would be counter-productive to contract him when, legally, he’s not allowed within 25 metres of the goalposts on either side of the stadium.

April fooooooool
Good one
It’s absolutely UnBullivable
Hahahahaha…had a slight heart ttack for just a moment….April fools to you too 😆
Was convinced for a little bit there, heart rate is slowly returning to normal.
Love this signing….but only if he brings the soundtrack with him 🙂
Up until I started the 2nd paragraph as my soul started to dull, I was convinced……then I remembered the date
Hahaha, now that was a good read. It might even be somewhat believable had the statements of wrestling partners or Jaco also considered not been made. Still had a good chuckle nevertheless.
10 points for the joke. -1658 points for the reminder of the 2007 super rugby final. Now I’m going to cry all day long!
Just kick the ball out Frans!
Nice try Rob!
Weet iemand of Alistair officially aan gestel is as bok coach
Any news on the new bok coach
@Gerriecellcshark (Comment 12) : think the announcement has been postponed till next week.
Bloody hell Rob! My heart!!! Shit man… But then I remembered the date.. LOL! Beaut!
I forgot the date and as I was reading I thought this comments section is going to be full of hate for Gold after that ridiculous signing.
“…and has been trying to get back into the Bulls setup, only to be thwarted due to a long line of quality young pivots on their books, as well as Francois Brummer and Tiaan Schoeman.”
Now that a sentence with layered meaning. Well done 😎
@vanmartin (Comment 16) : glad someone spotted it 🙂
Sooo im guessing this is a joke…so no Liefling blaring from the Kings Park speakers anytime soon? Aaaah bummer
Liefling is too busy looking for free publicity posing with Joost.
@coolfusion (Comment 19) : trying to get back into the media as his rugby comeback did not last very long!
@JarsonX (Comment 2) : That could have read “unBULLievaBULL”…
@josefgremlin (Comment 9) : Just give the bloody conversion to Butch…damn it…the day that rugby died… 🙁