A slightly bittersweet one for Sharks fans his morning: the good news is that ace flanker Marcell Coetzee is nearing the end of a lengthy rehab period after rupturing knee ligaments last year. The bad news is that, when he does take the field next month, it will be in the white and red of Ulster, rather than the black and white of the Sharks.
“He looks great, looks strong, you can see he’s a beast and a very good player so I’m looking forward to him putting the Ulster jersey on,” Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss told the BBC this morning. “He will be ready for the first game during the Six Nations period.”
It’s expected that debut could take place on 10 February, when Ulster face another club with a large South African contingent, Edinburgh.
Welcome back Marcell and we hope it goes well.
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Now that’s one of the players I really regret losing….at his prime.
@Sharkfinn (Comment 1) : Me too…….and I just cant help thinking that The Boks missed him massively last year.
Silver lining – we get to watch some rugby on 10 Feb. Don’t really put aside time to watch NH rugby but I’ll happily make an exception for Marcell.
@Sharkfinn (Comment 1) : Very true, for me he should be the Sharks captain.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 4) : For me he should be the Bok captain.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 4) : @The hound (Comment 5) : For me he should be a Shark 😈
I’m sad he’s not at the Sharks but glad he’s almost ready to play again! So it makes me sa-lad 😉
Sigh…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 4) : @The hound (Comment 5) : And I agree with both of you… 😀
interesting to see that ahead of super rugby the bulls have released byorn basson and sp marias from their contracts, would be interesting to see where they move on too, either another union ? or japans/Europe ?
@revolverocelot (Comment 10) : Id be surprised to see either of them move to Europe…well not top tier Europe anyway. Japan a slight possibility. But the Kings should really grab them both.
@revolverocelot (Comment 10) : what’s the source of that info, please?
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Think there was a rugby365 article…
http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/76761-pollard-kriel-unleashed-on-chiefs
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : got it, thanks.
@revolverocelot (Comment 10) : WP have announced the signing of SP Marais and Dan Kriel. While Johan du Toit has joined his brother too.
@Shakes34 (Comment 15) : Interesting that they signed SP Marais…wonder how their young fullbacks feel about that
@robdylan (Comment 12) : @SheldonK (Comment 13) : @Shakes34 (Comment 15) : very interesting wonder where Basson is going?
SP becoming a bit of a traveller just Cheetahs and Lions then he will have a full set of SA Super rugby players jerseys!
@JD (Comment 17) : If Basson could tackle id say he should play 7s. Think someone will get him…maybe back to Griquas
@robdylan (Comment 12) : article on sa rugby mag website
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : oh sorry 365 article yes
@SheldonK (Comment 16) : yah good point, maybe its just cover for the whole back three, cause they do have that beast of a young FB in grant hermanus whose flying somewhat under the radar of late, but is very good.
Rob: is elron eksteen still with us ? for me his good, like droste his older than 21 but still promising enough to invest in
@revolverocelot (Comment 20) : he’s still on our books, but not training with us. To be honest, I have no idea where he is
@SheldonK (Comment 13) :
…….. after a serious infection in his shoulder, following the surgery, resulted in a suggestion that he might have to have his arm amputated……….
Q: What’s the difference between Roman Gladiator Games and Professional Rugby?
A: The Gladiator’s arm is amputated in public.
Hi Rob. Can you confirm whether the other Marcel Coetzee is still contracted to us. He is on a camp with the German national team at the moment and in their lists he is still listed as a Shark. I want to do an interview with him for the site, and would like to confirm that before I chat to him…
@pastorshark (Comment 23) : ask him he should know if he’s still contracted or not. Anyway would love to here about his experience with the German national team regardless if he’s still at the Sharks or not!
@JD (Comment 24) : Yeah, I’ll do the interview no matter what his contract status…just thought I could find out what his status is before I send him the questions. He is on a training camp in Fiji at the moment and my only contact to him is via facebook…so makes it a bit difficult to chat “live”…
@fyndraai (Comment 22) : Does there have to be a difference? Bring on the public amputation….
😈
@pastorshark (Comment 23) : no, he’s not contracted.
@pastorshark (Comment 25) : kein Deutsch, bitte, nur Englisch 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 28) : 😀 Das kriegen wir schon hin…
@pastorshark (Comment 25) : OK that makes sense.