Strauss makes Euro trip
11 Sep 2012
Josh Strauss has made an early exit at the Golden Lions after signing a three-year contract with the Glasgow Warriors.
There have been several rumours about Strauss’s expected departure in recent weeks, including talks about a move to seven-time Super Rugby champions the Crusaders.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Lions confirmed the release of the former captain and loose forward. The 25-year-old will complete the move to the Scottish club over the next two weeks.
‘We are pleased that we could come to an agreement with Josh and the Glasgow Warriors, which will allow Josh to fulfill his desire of playing rugby in Europe for an extended period,’ Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk said in a press release. ‘We want to thank Josh for his contribution at the Lions and wish him all the best with his future.’
Strauss added: ‘I am very grateful to the Lions for the opportunities afforded to me to grow as a player and thereby assisting me in being able to make this change now.’
Strauss is the fifth player to leave the Johannesburg union, following the announcement of their Super Rugby relegation in August. Props Jacobie Adriaanse (Scarlets, Wales) and Caylib Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs), and locks Ruan Botha (WP) and Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls) have all confirmed their departures.
The loss of Strauss contradicts De Klerk’s assertion that a group of contracted players will remain at the Lions until the end of 2013. De Klerk made these recent statements as he argued against rumours of a mass exodus.
Lions players contracted until October 2013 – JC Janse van Rensburg, CJ van der Linde, Callie Visagie, Pat Cilliers, Hendrik Roodt, Franco van der Merwe, Derick Minnie, Jaco Kriel, Michael Rhodes, Stephan Greeff, Josh Strauss, Warren Whiteley, Michael Bondesio, Ross Cronje, Whestley Moolman, Elton Jantjies (with Super Rugby contract clause), Guy Cronje, Jaco Taute, Alwyn Hollenbach, Lionel Mapoe, Dylan des Fountain, Bradley Moolman, Deon van Rensburg, Deon Helberg, Andries Coetzee, James Kamana.
25 Comments
11 Sep 2012, 12:34 pm
Um, I wouldn’t call the other 4 ‘high-profile players”
11 Sep 2012, 13:34 pm
I wish the Bulls bought him, he would have been a good fit with the Cheetahs as well.
Bye bye Josh, you should have been a Bok and show the boys how a man gets stuck in and plays with heart, attitude and mongrel. Shame he will never wear the Green and Gold.
11 Sep 2012, 13:37 pm
What did I tell you? Just call me Siener
“1.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
6 Sep 2012, 13:27 pm
Unfortunately this might be the end of the Dragon Strauss era
5.TooMuchRugby: Reply to this comment
6 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
@SexyTime-2:
Just thinking:
First the rumours of going to NZ
Then moving to lock
Then out of the match 22
Just wondering if his involvement in axing the coach hasn’t alienated him.”
11 Sep 2012, 13:38 pm
thanks ONCE AGAIN for farking nothing you miserable useless lions executive boardroom dooses
thanks
11 Sep 2012, 13:44 pm
@JA-JA-2: I would love to have hima t the sharks but the cheetahs would be a good fit for him and them
11 Sep 2012, 13:55 pm
Those Lions contracts are about as watertight as their defense.
11 Sep 2012, 13:57 pm
Fark… A prime case of use it or lose it…
Lost now…
Wonder if he’s got a Scottish/Celtic granny in the family tree?
Could be eligible for one of the Celtic teams in no time at all.
Who knows, maybe even the Roses themselves – Botha in the 2nd row, Strauss in the back row.
11 Sep 2012, 14:00 pm
The list of players above that are “contracted until Oct 2012″ means nothing. Expect some more players to exit before season-end.
11 Sep 2012, 14:00 pm
@Heavens Game-7: Another interesting thing about the above “high profile” Lions departures – none are going to the Kings… Lol… This is going to be a farkup of note.
11 Sep 2012, 14:02 pm
As usual, the exact opposite from what KdK says, comes true.
11 Sep 2012, 14:40 pm
None of the Lions players contracted till the end of 2013 are going to stick around playing Vodacom cup rugby while the big boys are playing superrugby – those contracts mean squat when players ask to be released cause they want job security, guranteed income or a chance to play test rugby.
Expect the flood gates to open soon and don’t be surprised if the Kings down the Lions in the promotion relegation match.
KDK you and your broerbond mates are delusional pricks.
11 Sep 2012, 15:30 pm
Can’t say this was unexpected but I am deeply gutted. This was a hard as nails player who at least breaks the gainline almost always AND a great leader to boot.
That HM would rather dish out Bok Colours to a skid mark like Potgieter says it all for Josh. Add to the latter no Super Rugby in 2013… BUT WHY SCOTLAND FFS?
His rugby will NOT improve there. When HM is turfed out for being the closest thing to Rudolph Straueli since Rudolph Straueli, the new coach will look for untainted players with the goods required. Had Josh stayed in SA or at least France this might have been the case for him, but Scotland… no way.
I see John Mitchell is still around and NO word from GLRU re. his disciplinary hearing…. interesting indeed.
11 Sep 2012, 15:42 pm
You can say what you like…. Strauss is not Bok quality. Not really large enough for an international loosie either
11 Sep 2012, 15:50 pm
@Lions_Soutie-13: U had better be being sarcastic!! GRRRRR. Josh would wipe the floor with Potgieter, Spies, Coetzee and yes, even Vermeulen. he also would have beena good “leader” to have in that headless chicken flock we call the Springbok forward pack.
11 Sep 2012, 17:33 pm
@Rooibaard2000-14: I agree.
This man is an yster and I am very sad to see him go.
Someone like Spies and Potgieter gets wined and dined while this oke slips through the cracks. What a bummer.
11 Sep 2012, 20:42 pm
@Blokkies-15: Strauss is a brilliant player and looks like a good bloke as well. Potgieter, Spies etc were all just bundled into the Springbok team… Spies has had ages to prove he’s good enough, but the speculation has NEVER once stopped for him. Potgieter… how on earth he’s even there is beyond me.
Strauss should’ve definitely been given a go considering our injury crisis at loosie at the moment. He can cover 7 and 8 well. Alberts seems to be an inconsistent performer. When he’s good, he’s bloody brilliant, but he has too many off days where he becomes anonymous. Duane has hardly done anything this year to warrant selection; great player and deserved to be a Bok ages ago, but not this year, not at the moment…
11 Sep 2012, 20:56 pm
Looking at that list of 26 contracted Lions players until October 2013, let’s just say that it is a lot of hungry mouths to feed.
Good luck with that.
11 Sep 2012, 21:01 pm
lionel…come to the Kings boytjie!!
11 Sep 2012, 21:10 pm
@Transformation-18:
Transie, I had a chat with a friend and she told me DTH van der Merwe is going to play for the Kings as well
He’s from Victoria and he played for Canada in last years WC
11 Sep 2012, 21:27 pm
@victoriabok-19: never heard of him or his impending arrival…will kerp an ear to the ground.
11 Sep 2012, 21:36 pm
He’s fast and a good player, he plays for Glasgow Warriors, where Stauss is moving to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.T.H._van_der_Merwe
http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/15338.html
11 Sep 2012, 22:12 pm
Sweet move Strauss, hopefully you will find a better club after now that you’re there.
11 Sep 2012, 23:12 pm
Lionel Mapoe is one guy who’s already burnt some bridges (at Free State & Natal). He either stays put &prays there’s a SR play-off as promised, or flirts with the Kings (career suicide) . There’s no room at the inn elsewhere, unless he takes a pay cut & rides the bench
12 Sep 2012, 04:48 am
inevitable
but sad
12 Sep 2012, 20:46 pm
@Transformation-20:
Dissapointed Transformer, thought you were a fundi.
DTH was only one of the outstanding players at the WC. Comes from Worcester or Wellington (can’t remember which). Moved to Canada with his parents while still at school.
Big, strong and fast.
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