Sarries rope in Reynecke

Sarries rope in Reynecke

1 May 2009

Saracens have secured the services of yet another South African with Lions hooker Ethienne Reynecke signing with the Watford club.

The 27-year-old has played second fiddle to Willie Wepener for several years, and given that is unlikely to change has sought to explore other options.

Saracens’ incoming Director of Rugby Brendan Venter was notably pleased with the acquisition.

‘He’s a player who comes to us with Super 14 experience and his signing adds more depth to our front row. We’re delighted to have secured his services.’


19 Comments

  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 10:05 am

    ai…we losing our boys head over foot!

  • 2.Cyborg: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 10:22 am

    This is one of the big reasons why English rugby is in a state of decline. How much value will a player like Reynecke honestly add and do you mean to tell me there is no young English hooker who could have been given the oppurtuniy? The mass signing of foreigners (be they good, average or just poor) is ridiculous.

  • 3.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 10:51 am

    Great Ethienne! You deserve better than a position behind Hans Van Dyk and Wepener in the pecking order.

    Walter Venter would probably have left as well if he wasn’t tied to a conract. I guess no amount of money and begging will keep Walter at the Lions once his contract expires.

    Reynecke and Venter clearly are’nt members of Loffie’s inner circle.

  • 4.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 11:19 am

    I like this guy, but to be fair SA is currently quite blessed in the hooker department.

    You have;

    Smit
    Bissie
    Strauss
    Wepener
    Liebenberg

    all lined up there and his chances of making the Bok side soon, or even the Vaal side is not too rosy.

    Good move, go get experience in tough conditions and come back a better player mate.

  • 5.puff: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 11:23 am

    Hasn’t Schalk Brits also signed with Saracens?

  • 6.money_man: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 11:30 am

    #4 PissAnt:

    Could not agree more…

  • 7.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 11:56 am

    PA – Where on earth is Brent Russel nowadays? He was playing for sarries a few years back and was brilliant.

  • 8.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 12:02 pm

    #7 race of tan:

    Joined a French club if memory serves…

  • 9.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 12:04 pm

    #7 race of tan: #8 PissAnt:

    Yes, he joined Cleremont in 2008

  • 10.money_man: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 12:05 pm

    #7 race of tan:

    He was signed by Clermont after a spell of below par performances at Saracens if I’m not mistaken…

  • 11.JdB: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:03 pm

    Its a great move for Reynecke, he is not getting any younger, he is not going to be starting for the lions, so good move… As for English Rugby, why would the sign a second rate aging number 2, is the depth that bad? Especially sad for a club that prides itself on its development program…

  • 12.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:35 pm

    #2 Cyborg: Ongaro was the Italian hooker who was there before him. To be honest, hooker isn’t an area where we have problems with Lee Mears (Lion), Steve Thompson (Lion), George Chuter, Dylan Hartley and David Paice with a couple of other youngsters like Webber coming through.

    #10 money_man: he was off-loaded by Eddie Jones and is now in Clermont Reserves. I think he was a good player and not sure why they offloaded him.

    #11 JdB: Haven’t you heard, Saracens is a South African owned club now.

  • 13.katman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 15:20 pm

    #12 Big Hit: Chuter? He’s that odd bearded fella? Looks like a civil war veteran?

  • 14.jauzy19: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 18:27 pm

    #11 JdB:

    I don’t know who will be the Lions hooker next season, Wepener has signed for Clermont too.

  • 15.Battleaxe: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 20:53 pm

    #11 JdB: Hell JDB aging the guy only turned 27 a month ago!!! For youself hope you were a first rated player in your time playing S14…….to grade him as a second rated player!!!Give him a chance!!

  • 16.Battleaxe: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 21:19 pm

    Good question JAUZY19. Think they in the poefies!!!

  • 17.Tbozknows: Reply to this comment
    2 May 2009, 11:17 am

    This thing of SA pulling away6 from Sanzar is a big mistake for South African rugby. The keo poll is obviously close and for some strantge reason there is a belief that SA rugby will improve playing in the North. If SA leave Sanzar then they will lose their edge. More players will move to europe for the money and SA rugby will suffer as a consequence. Sanzar sets the standard for world rugby, hence the need to keep it together..

  • 18.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    2 May 2009, 12:16 pm

    Watch him do well at Saracens in a second rate competition etc then you’ll hear how we are not keeping talent in SA-letting it slip through our hands etc etc

    Reyneke is avg at best,isnt even good enough to play S14 IMHO..

    All of:

    Smit
    Bismark
    A.Strauss
    R.Strauss
    S.Brits
    Rallapelle
    Kuun
    D.Fourie
    Liebenberg
    etc

    All hands down better players

    Good luck to him,Benoni/Boksburg boy struck it lucky.

  • 19.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    2 May 2009, 12:18 pm

    All Lions fans

    What happened to Divan Kapp?(former SA schools/u19 hooker)

    Freakish talent that boy

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