Strauss answers Ireland’s call

Strauss answers Ireland’s call

24 Oct 2012

Former Free State hooker Richardt Strauss has been included in Ireland’s squad for their November Tests.

The 26-year-old could come up against his cousin, Springbok hooker Adriaan, on 10 November at Lansdowne Road.

Strauss, who is featured in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, has earned rave reviews for Leinster since arriving in Dublin in 2009. He was brought in as a ‘project player’, a handy loophole that allows non-Irish players to represent local sides with the proviso that they will be eligible for Ireland down the line.

Other South Africans who could follow in Strauss’s footsteps are loose forward CJ Stander (Munster), lock Quinn Roux (Leinster) and wing Danie Poolman (Connacht).

SA Rugby magazine, on sale now

 


9 Comments

  • 1.gecko: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 13:30 pm

    ‘The Leinster No 2 could come up against his brother, Springbok hooker Adriaan, on 10 November in Dublin’

    I think he is more likely to come up against his cousin, Springbok hooker Adriaan, as his brother, one-time-non-test-match Springbok Andries should never have been near a Bok team in the first place.

  • 2.digger: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 17:16 pm

    Good on him. I always rated him! South Africa is blessed with loads of hookers and I am glad he gets to play some test rugby. He always had pace and always seemed to play with loads and loads of passion.

  • 3.Rage: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 17:26 pm

    I see Sean Maitland of the Saders is also heading to Scotland in the hope of wearing the navy jersey.I honestly do not like this trend.

  • 4.bodisking: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 17:33 pm

    The “handy loophole” you refer to, and seem to be implying is uniquely irish, is actually the IRB international eligibility criteria and applies to all IRB members. http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulations/04/23/28/120531gfirbhandbook2012freg8eng.pdf

  • 5.David: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 18:02 pm

    @bodisking-4:
    I think he’s referring to a loophole in Irish regulations, not IRB ones. It’s similar to Aussie ones for the S15.

  • 6.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 01:57 am

    @Rage-3: Maitland’s Dad is Scottish unlike Strauss’s 3-year residency which is less appealing.

  • 7.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 08:10 am

    I wonder what his accent is like. Flo has picked up a hybrid Brit preppy accent which is quite hilarious.

  • 8.JayBok: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 11:17 am

    Im a traditionalist. It should be our best vs their best. This 3 year loop hole is a joke. This is a concession that Ire. cant produce world class players. Ire. are going down the Poms road.

  • 9.bodisking: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 13:24 pm

    The 3 year loop hole might be a bit of a joke but thems the rules and Ireland are nowhere near as bad as the All Blacks or the Poms when it comes to taking advantage of IRB eligility rules. Strauss and Touhy are the only foreign born players in a 31 man Ireland squad and you can count on one hand the number of non-Irish born players that have got anywhere near an Ireland XV in recent times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1025/1224325678623.html

    Ireland can’t produce world class player? Have you ever seen Brian O’Driscoll or Rob Kearney play?

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