Taute signs with Stormers
24 Oct 2012
Lions utility back Jaco Taute has signed a loan deal with the Stormers, but he also has the option of making a permanent move.
Taute has been linked to a season-long stint with the Cape franchise over the past two weeks, and the deal was finally signed on Tuesday afternoon.
The 21-year-old said he was looking forward to the new challenge.
‘I’m very excited,’ Taute told keo.co.za. ‘The Stormers have been a world-class team in recent seasons and I hope to make a valuable contribution next year.’
The deal should see the player return to the Lions in time for their Super Rugby promotion-relegation match against the last-placed South African team.
However, Taute revealed he could decide to extend his stay in Cape Town.
‘My contract with the Lions expires next season,’ said Taute. ‘So I could stay on with the Stormers if I wanted to. But we will see how things go in 2013.
‘I want to be part of a title-contending side. The Stormers have qualified for the play-offs over the past three years, and I want the opportunity to play in those big games. That’s what all players dream about, and I’m no different.’
When asked where he thinks he would feature in the Stormers line-up, Taute believed fullback would be the ideal position. He has been selected at centre for the Lions and Springboks in recent months, but the Stormers squad already has Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Marcel Brache and JP du Plessis in their midfield department.
‘I will play at centre or at fullback, but also I want to play where I’ll get a decent amount of game time,’ said Taute. ‘That would probably be fullback. I don’t mind because I’ve played there since I was a schoolboy, so I’m very comfortable in that position. I only started playing centre for the Lions because of their injury situation.’
Meanwhile, there is still no confirmation on Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies’ loan deal with the Stormers.
The 22-year-old is expected to follow Taute to the Cape franchise, but head coach Allister Coetzee said the player is yet to put pen to paper.
According to Lions president Kevin de Klerk: ‘Elton is still exploring his other options’.
Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant believes Jantjies will be a major addition to the team.
‘Elton has been producing some great performances at a high level,’ Grant told this site. ‘He is young and has progressed really well over the last few seasons. His style of play will definitely suit that of the Stormers.
‘He’s now had some valuable time with the Springboks, which will also boost his confidence.’
Grant, who’s currently playing for Japanese club Kobe Steelers, will join the Stormers for Super Rugby duty in February (the final fixture on the Japanese club calendar is the knockout final on 23 February).
With Grant’s club commitments, Demetri Catrakilis’ departure to the Southern Kings and other flyhalf injuries, Jantjies is likely to be handed a starting berth if he joins the Stormers next year.
By Gareth Duncan
59 Comments
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24 Oct 2012, 16:07 pm
@nama1-50: i’m afraid you’re going to have to stomach his inconsistency when it come to tactical kicking…he failed at Soccer City to clear the ball and it was fielded by Dagg and it ended up on our tryline…last weekend was shocking too and revealed that Taute wasn’t concentrating as the ball had been passed to him from outside the 22
who is the WP/Stormer kicking coach, do you have one?
24 Oct 2012, 16:13 pm
@Transformation-51:
I think Koen was there (with Stormers at least) before he went to the Boks. Don’t know.
24 Oct 2012, 19:37 pm
@Slappes-21: Whats wrong slappes? you obviously cannot accept that KDK and the LIONS are doing their best to stay competitive and without political assistance.
Unlike your wetdream union that had to use politics, have SARU bail you out financially make false promises regarding “transformation” etc.Maybe the ec should have done 6 years ago to make a change for themselfs not demand the change.
Enjoy getting PKed every weekend next year and we will enjoy watching international teams for a change.
And now to wait for your usual foul mouthed retoric.
24 Oct 2012, 19:48 pm
@Wanderer-53:
International teams like……..?
24 Oct 2012, 21:33 pm
@Wanderer-53: what are you on about? eish some of these relegated lions supporters can be suur…
24 Oct 2012, 21:57 pm
@David-54: The Lions will be playing the following teams in 2013 prior to the Currie Cup:
•Bulls
•Stormers
•Cheetahs
•Sharks
•Russia
•Glasgow Warriors
•Agen
•Grenoble
•Samoa
•Mont Pellier
•Promotion/ Relegation series – Super Rugby
•French Barbarians
•Texas cup champions
•US Barbarians Calfornia
•US Barbarians Vancouver
24 Oct 2012, 22:00 pm
@Transformation-55: Hello Trannie, its a reply to the usual hate that your boy friend Slappie wrote earlier, on how the LIONS are making their own future and not demanding it.
24 Oct 2012, 22:16 pm
Jantjies’ stocks are falling!
25 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
@Wanderer-57:
Ignore them, Wanderer.
They are quick to trash the Lions but have been painfully slow to come clean on just how ‘successful’ Eastern Cape rugby has been. You ask the question, they ignore you, becuase tghey know the answer is terrible, bursts thier little bullshite bubble. EP/The Kings have been a basketcase, on and off the field, since the year dot.
But don’t expect these propagandists to ever admit that when it comes to jokes, the Kings are the most hilarious outfit to ever grace a rugby field – and by the proverbial country mile.
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