In a move likely to raise a few eyebrows (if not heckles), it’s been revealed that Sharks prop Thomas du Toit will join Irish provincial side Munster for a 3-month loan spell.
“In certain positions we had to look at our short-term options in making sure we had adequate cover. We are about to head into a fully loaded schedule across Europe and the PRO12, and needed to build on our depth in a few key areas, so these short-term contracts will help in that regard,” said Munster Director of Rugby and former Springbok Rassie Erasmus. It’s understood that Erasmus will use du Toit to shore up the tight head side of the scrum over the next three months, one of the busiest periods on the European rugby calendar.
Sharks fans will view this announcement with mixed feelings and more than a little trepidation. While it’s a bonus that du Toit will be exposed to new ideas and will hopefully pick up some new tricks while at Munster, it can hardly be ideal for such a key squad member to miss the entire Super Rugby pre-season. As a young hungry farm boy, you can understand that the player himself may not relish the prospect of three months of conditioning work, but we all know just how vital these non-playing blocks are in terms of laying a foundation for the new season and avoiding injuries further down the line.
With Dale Chadwick already off the books and few signs that Juan Schoeman is likely to prove the answer at Super Rugby level, the Sharks can ill afford to lose du Toit for any part of next season. This Munster move thus seems very risky indeed and I wonder if the short-term gains in terms of saved wages will prove worth it, should du Toit end up picking up a serious injury in the Celtic league.
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They must be paying him a packet. Hoping he comes back!
I think weve seen the last of him. Why would he come back?
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 2) : Because he has said he wants to play for the Boks and at tight head, recon its a great way for him to learn and will come back a much better player
@Tintin (Comment 3) : shit, I hope so. I always thought he’s gonna be huge.
Well it could work both ways. He could get some training and experience at 3 and come back a better player or it could convince him to stick to 1 (the option that I would prefer as I think he has a better chance of playing for Bokke at 1).
He has missed a large part of the season so its not like he has played that much rugby so in terms of that and he experience he will gain its a good move. However, a lot of the time these short stints get extended and a player gets the feeling for life abroad and very soon he is gone.
OK…
@SheldonK (Comment 6) : thats my fear exactly, and if they want him they can afford him.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 8) : Plus I think its lekker to play for Rassie
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 9) : And with C.J Stander as your captain,should be quite comfortable there.
He also grew up inCape Town so he will feel at home in that shite Irish weather.
I lived in Dublin in the 80’s food was shite,weather was atrocious but the women ,well maybe thats why I stayed so long.and the music,oh and the rugby.
@The hound (Comment 10) : hahaha nice one!!!! Still trying to figure out how I landed in Middle Earth was for sure not the weather or the rugby so must have been a woman!?!?!?
@The hound (Comment 10) : 😀 😀 and the beer?
@SheldonK (Comment 6) : yes it took only a couple of months of eating sushi and Marcell was off to Europe!!!
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 12) : If you into drinking black shit,whiskey is very good,but the women,sigh.
Theyre just calling it a “loan” while they get his work permit in order. He’s gone.
Perhaps it’s just me but any news from the Sharks camp these days seems like bad news. I have a gut feeling that we might regret this “loan” agreement.
Thomas is good enough to be sought by other clubs. If leaving is on his mind he will do so. This loan agreement is not a catalyst or an opening.
@JD (Comment 11) : I take it Middle Earth is Guateng?
@coolfusion (Comment 17) : @West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 15) : The money is just too good to say no and on top of that the experience of living in another country, a 1st world one.
@Quintin (Comment 18) : nope Northern Free State.
@JD (Comment 19) : The purple people eaters…
@Quintin (Comment 18) : Free State is middle earth. Gaited is more like Mordor.
@coolfusion (Comment 21) : Gauteng even…
@SheldonK (Comment 20) : you know it! 😉
@coolfusion (Comment 21) : yup Gauteng = Mordor (or in our house also refered to as Sodom & Gomorrah) 😉