Koster makes Bath switch

Koster makes Bath switch

25 Oct 2012

Western Province loose forward Nick Koster has signed with English club Bath.

Much was expected of Koster when he entered the WP system, but injuries have stifled his involvement. The move comes off the back of another stop-start season with the union, but Bath head coach and former WP assistant Gary Gold believes Koster still has much to offer.

‘Nick is a very exciting young player and we are delighted that he has agreed to move to Bath,’ Gold said. ‘He is a hard-working, incredibly motivated guy, and we are sure he will fit in with the club ethos we are developing.

‘We have a very talented and competitive back row at present, and Nick knows he will have to fight for his place, but he is up for the challenge and we can’t wait to see the results.

‘We’d like to thank Western Province for their co-operation in allowing Nick to join us, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with them. Hopefully it will allow players to potentially spend time with the other club as and when the opportunity should arise.’


23 Comments

  • 1.jb: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 08:46 am

    just please don’t say you want to play for England after 3 years

  • 2.Rhys7: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:07 am

    Francois Louw will be back by the June tests.

  • 3.coma: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:29 am

    @jb-1: Never lived up to expectations, sicknote of note. It would be great if he makes the England team, that would mean that we have at least 10 players we can use there before giving anything away in that position.

  • 4.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:33 am

    Hope a plan is made for F Louw to join Stormers for superrugby!

    Good news …D Fourie is staying !

  • 5.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:35 am

    Also …P Grant has not as yet signed a new contract for next year…

  • 6.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:37 am

    go well nick…never saw what they over-blown hype was about anyway…

  • 7.Provincejoulekkading: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:46 am

    @grant10-5: Is he really staying? Thats great news, he has really come into his own playing at 6.

    Asked him about the move in a presser a while ago and he was very cagey in his answer.

  • 8.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:55 am

    @grant10-4: No loss with Koster leaving. Not much gained with Fourie staying. Where will he play?

  • 9.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:57 am

    @grant10-4: Dont lie? He has become indispensable to the team! One of our best players!

    But we will he play next year? 6 or 2.

    I think he can still do a fetcher job at 2.

    A loose trio of Kolisi, Burger/Elstadt, Vermeulen will be great.

    @grant10-5: We need Jantjies to sign a loan deal with a move to make it permanent.

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:58 am

    @pompies2-8: At hooker.

  • 11.Tuna: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:59 am

    Next to go: Burger

  • 12.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:59 am

    @Sasuke-10: Not as the starting hooker. The tight five will concede too much to the opposition.

  • 13.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:06 am

    @pompies2-12: He started quite a few games at hooker in the 2011 season and the Stormers pack dominated most packs with him there at hooker. Also that was before Etzebeth joined the team.

    With Etzebeth there our tight five is really strong and mobile. He gets through lots of work. Fourie will play a vital role in doing the fetcher duties at 2. Slowing down opposition ball and trying to steal opposition ball.

  • 14.coma: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:09 am

    Better option than Liebenberg imo. You don’t have to have a 6 on your back to be a fetcher in the modern game.

    There are about 6 SA hookers globally that I will start ahead of Liebenberg.

  • 15.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:10 am

    @Sasuke-13: He’s weak in both the scrums and lineouts. Decdent in open play, but decisions on the ball leave alot to be desired. He also hasn’t come up against a top opensider in super rugby yet. He’ll be found wanting. Also, given the current loosies at the stormers, he’s quite a way down the pecking order.

  • 16.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:16 am

    @coma-14: Serious? Even after seeing what happens to the province\stormers team when they having a stronger scrumming hooker? Fourie’s star will fizzle once stronger opposition comes into play. Lets see how he goes saturday.

  • 17.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:22 am

    @pompies2-15: Decent in open play? I think a bit more than decent. His pace and explosive power allows him to gain valuable metres on attack. Agree he needs to work on his set phases.

  • 18.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:27 am

    Confirmed that D Fourie is staying….great player to have…come on in leaps and bounds as a real fetcher type. Very happy to have him in mix…

  • 19.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:29 am

    @Sasuke-17: His main attacking play comes via the pick and drive and he lacks the necessary bulk to make a meaningful impact on this phase of play. He also seems to have a knack of doing the pick and drive at inopportune times.

  • 20.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:31 am

    @grant10-18: Gotta disagree G10. Perhaps it’s your absolute fixation on the “fetcher” role, but Deon won’t be a factor in super rugby. Perhaps in a weakened currie cup, but that’s it. Just have a think of the other super rugby opensiders and consider if he will hold his own against them.

  • 21.mabu: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:57 am

    @Transformation-6: ebe vala izithuba qha! maka hambe!

  • 22.shebeen: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 11:48 am

    nothing wrong with having two strong hookers in the squad.

  • 23.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 18:49 pm

    The hype to performance ratio with this guy was one of the worst in recent memory. He has made the right choice and will probably play for England.

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