Sharks: Lensing is ours
4 May 2006
After much behind the scenes action during the day, the Sharks have finally officially confirmed that Kees Lensing will play for them in this years’ Currie Cup.
Lensing was the subject of much heated debate on Thursday, as London Irish indicated he had a verbal agreement with them. His agent Jason Smith had, according to London Irish Dircetor of Rugby, Brian Smith, signed papers on Lensing’s behalf and the director of Rugby had shaken hands on the deal with the Namibian.
The deal, both Smiths said had been a breach of agreement and had been done by the player in his sole capacity with Sharks Commercial Manager Rudolf Straeuli.
In a statement, the Sharks said that Lensing would start on June 1 and had signed a three-year deal. The full Sharks statement follows:
During a trip to the UK in November 2005 when CEO Brian van Zyl, Commercial Manager Rudolf Straeuli, and Coach Dick Muir touched base with the Sharks in the Springbok squad who were in Wales, the trio also visited clubs and had discussions with various players, which included prop Kees Lensing.
Following on from that trip, the Sharks are now pleased to announce the signing of loosehead prop Lensing from Leeds Tykes in the UK. Highly-rated as a strong scrummager and powerful carrier of the ball, Kees will fit perfectly into the Sharks power play – a combination of strength and exceptional ball skills to complement the exciting pattern of play Dick Muir has introduced this season.
He has a three year contract and will be available for the Sharks from this years domestic Absa Currie Cup season, with the contract starting June 1.
With 10 Super caps under his belt for The Bulls, Kees comes with a solid pedigree and is no stranger to local conditions and competition. He played Craven Week for NW Cape in 1995/6 and also represented the Griffons (47 caps) and Eastern Province (30 Caps). He represented Namibia at the Rugby World Cup in 2003, going on to record 10 Test match appearances, and moved to the Bulls where he played Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup rugby in 2004 before making his Super 12 debut in 2005.
His move to Leeds Tykes last year at the end of the domestic Currie Cup season was lamented as a big loss to the Bulls. He went on to play alongside South Africans Andre Snyman, Rayno Gerber and Roland de Marigny, but with Leeds being relegated at the end of the domestic season, he has exercised the opt-out release clause in his contract.
Having now signed for the Sharks, the big prop doesn’t view them as the old foe. “They are not really the enemy, because I was with EP for two years before I moved to the Bulls so I was here for Super 12 training camps,” he explains. “I’m really looking forward to it, and being back in South Africa. The conditions here are much better and I always wanted to play with John and BJ, so here I am!”
He explains that having represented Namibia internationally, he is not eligible to play for the Springboks. “This is the only opportunity I have to play with these guys, I cannot play for the Springboks, and I really wanted to take it,” he says.
“The performances of the Sharks this year made the decision so much easier for me,” he explains. “There have been some changes and I am looking forward to the move; hopefully, it will suit my rugby and the way I play.”
48 Comments
4 May 2006, 16:41 pm
Dragon farts = Props Breath.
4 May 2006, 16:48 pm
Sharks have to steal former Bulls players, it’s the only way they can compete. Having said that, it seems everyone’s after Bulls players these days. I know that the Sharks will whip the Stormers on Saturday so that’s all that matters.
4 May 2006, 16:48 pm
Sharks will win CC this yr… You heard it 1st from me… WP wont make the semis…
4 May 2006, 16:49 pm
Well, well, well! Good luck to him. I must admit that I do feel for both Smiths and also Deon
Carstens ( who must know that he is certainly going to play second-fiddle to the country’s most expensive signing even though he has been playing good rugby). However, that Sharks front-row is sounding mighty scary. Still, the game is not played on paper.
4 May 2006, 16:50 pm
the sharks will not win the CC…the bulls will stil stop them when it counts…..the cheetahs has n better chance…..to win it again
4 May 2006, 16:55 pm
Congratulations to Strauli the man is doing his job. The same cannot be said of his counterpart “Ou Groot Bek” in Cape Town. The Sharks have developed some good youngsters and they are mixing them with old hands like Ackerman, Brown, AJ and now Lensing to anchor their scrum.
The Bulls will still be the team to beat, but the Sharks is on the right track.
Also Adi Jacobs is again enjoying his rugby.
Well done Rudolf.
4 May 2006, 16:58 pm
My old man always told me never to trust anyone north of the Orange River – slimey scaley gits the lot of them.
Or maybe it is just confined to bulls players – at least braam kept his word.
4 May 2006, 16:58 pm
Ben M, that front row will demolish anything in the game. Put Ackerman and Muller behind it, and it could be frightening.
4 May 2006, 17:02 pm
Is Ackerman staying with the Sharks or is he returning to Griquas. I know he was a draft pick.
4 May 2006, 17:04 pm
Eish.
A formidable front row indeed. Why did the Bulls ever let Kees go ? The Bulls surely missed him this year as the Bulls pack, although still strong, isn’t such a force as was the case last year.
Hou vas boys, hier kom groot kak.
4 May 2006, 17:05 pm
My oupa het weer vir my gesê dat die luiaards en slegmoere is wat agtergebly het in die kaap….
4 May 2006, 17:05 pm
I heard the sharks were looking to keep him for the CC as well.
4 May 2006, 17:06 pm
Thats right Stan
They were to frightened to move and then to frightened to fight when the great colonialists attacked their brethren.
4 May 2006, 17:07 pm
The Boks aren’t playing in this years Currie Cup so it doesn’t matter who wins. The CC means nothing, not this year or next year. From 2008 the competition regains it’s importance.
4 May 2006, 17:07 pm
Remember that Smit and propably Ackerman will be playing for the Boks…
4 May 2006, 17:07 pm
My word is my bond. He woudl do well to remember. The slur on this man’s character will last long beyond any achievements in his rugby career. Just look at the lack of respect by which world rugby views Corne Krige.
He has been both badly brought up and ill-advised.
4 May 2006, 17:08 pm
No Stan, its those that stayed in the Cape that didnt run away.
No long along now – your mother calling for dinner…
4 May 2006, 17:09 pm
aparantly he will stay for the CC as well…
bulls are really silly, next to go will be bands, now there is one of sa’s finest props playing good rugby week after week IN THE VODACOM CUP?! now try tell me again there is a braintrust in cowland?!?!?!
4 May 2006, 17:12 pm
Light duties of the Groot Trek….
4 May 2006, 17:17 pm
cab, Im excited about it, but the Cats backline has always looked good before the game too. Engels and Moller are also both very good looseheads. I wont deny though, this guys is a monster. Looking forward to seeing him run out for us.
4 May 2006, 17:20 pm
met die groot trek het niemand n ****** clue gehad waarnatoe hulle gaan nie.
niks het verander nie.
4 May 2006, 17:24 pm
Stan, is hy ook die man wat jou geleer het om die swart man te haat?
4 May 2006, 17:24 pm
big g – bands is a fat lazy ******* who thinks one try is enough to secure a bok place….he has no heart – he plays for a cheque !
4 May 2006, 17:26 pm
Either way, whether it was the ones who stayed at the Cape or the ones who left, all took part in the disenfranchisement and oppression of their fellow man.
4 May 2006, 17:28 pm
like i said bulls is def not my team but the games i saw bands played he scrummed well and played hard… might be wrong, dunno and dont eally really care, just wandering why the hapless bull frontrow now doesnt get strengthened…
4 May 2006, 17:29 pm
glad to see no one’s feeding the ****** (no not me)
4 May 2006, 17:29 pm
dieselboy what the hell are you on about?
the transformation website is scfsbsbsb.GOV.ZA
4 May 2006, 17:30 pm
Watter haat aap?
4 May 2006, 17:35 pm
An Im sure you are regular visitor to that site hey Big G?
4 May 2006, 17:38 pm
crickey, I was wondering what was taking old STM so long to hit the scene…my word is my bond…get your hand off it.
4 May 2006, 17:39 pm
Blueblood,
What happens in 2008?
4 May 2006, 17:39 pm
no, my first priorityafter spending time on the beach is supporting rugby, actually real rugby without this kinderkak and transform this and colour that and scratch my back, just the 15 best dudes gettin on the field and playing their hearts out, and a good ref that is…
4 May 2006, 17:44 pm
Interesting G,
mines similar just that the rugby comes first.
Besides, I wasn’t the one who started the Voortrekker thread. Those honours go to Stan and Vinnie.
4 May 2006, 17:48 pm
lot of honours go to stan vinnie lol…
4 May 2006, 17:51 pm
I dont know if you can call Bands hard, or the Bulls front row hapless. Ask the Sharks pack about that…
4 May 2006, 18:03 pm
Can’t we change the rules so that he can play for the Boks?
How can the AB’s have all thos Fijian and Samoan internationals playing for them?
4 May 2006, 18:22 pm
This is starting to look like an Awesome Shakrs side. I tell you one thing with Kees,bj, smit and carstens they are formidable as a front row
4 May 2006, 18:33 pm
wls, surely they cant all play up front, otherwise it would be formidable
4 May 2006, 18:51 pm
Train
It is a common misperception that all the “quota players” in NZ are from the islands. As NZ Maori said awhile back, most arrive as kids or their parents and’or granparents had immigrated. So its unfair to label them as not being Kiwis. Its where you grow up, not wher you are born thats home. Besides, Rattlebones and Vickerman having left as adults is much worse. Lensing clearly chose to play for his home country. I am not a fan of SA “raiding” neighbouring countries (like the SADF) and making those guys Springboks. Your allegiance must be to the country you call home.
4 May 2006, 18:57 pm
Just shows you what lessing thinks off the Bulls, he knows they are a “dead end road” their lucky gravy train journey has come to an end, so well done Lessing, good decision to jion the Sharks; the are a young team trying new things; not like the stupid bulls!!!!!!!
4 May 2006, 19:07 pm
Thats EXCELLENT news.
Well Done ****, Well done Rudolf!
That is the best frikken news ive heard all day.
I have not read anyone elses posts, and dont care who disagrees!
GO SHARKS! YOU THINKING STRAIGHT BOYS!
4 May 2006, 19:22 pm
hehehehehehe !!
the other teams are going to KAAAAAK ! Remember when Kebble, Lawton and Muller scrummed everyone into the ground. That was where it all started for the Sharks back then, and now it’s starting again. Dominate up front and everything else falls into place.
4 May 2006, 20:04 pm
my grandfather always told me lotsa **** too, but i couldnt understand jack **** cos he spoke greek. was probably something about turks…
4 May 2006, 20:59 pm
Sharks – bulala amaStormers
Hlala gahle amadoda abafaze
4 May 2006, 21:38 pm
CAB HA HA AS I WROTE that i thought about that lol, perhaps its the way to beat the BAULLS next year lol
4 May 2006, 22:33 pm
Bulls still have a chance. He has agreed to and shook hands on 2 different deals in 2 weeks, next week he might agree another deal with another team. But who would believe him?
5 May 2006, 06:58 am
Stan
It was your oupa that got off his boat and hammered away at the local delights.
You would feel at home in the Cape.
5 May 2006, 07:01 am
Stan
You would walk among family members
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.