Where the Lions roam this summer

Where the Lions roam this summer

18 Jan 2013

Every South African franchise will benefit from the Lions non-participation in this year’s Super Rugby.

The core of the 2012 Lions squad, 16 in total, will play Super Rugby this season. Wikus van Heerden and Cobus Grobbelaar have retired, Josh Strauss and Jacobie Adriaanse have gone to Scotland and Wales respectively, veteran Doppies la Grange is with Italian club Treviso and Etienne Oosthuizen will play for the Brumbies.

The Stormers and Bulls, with five Lions each, are the biggest winners.

Breakdown of those who flopped with the Lions:

Stormers: Ruan Botha, Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Jaco Taute, Elton Jantjies (5)

Bulls: Paul Willemse, Grant Hattingh, Callie Visagie, Rudi Paige, Lionel Mapoe (4)

Sharks: Butch James, Franco van der Merwe (2)

Cheetahs: Caylib Oosthuizen (1)

Kings: Bandise Maku, Michael Killian (2)

16 South African players have also left for European, English and Australian teams.

SA player movement (who’s in and who’s out):

Stormers
IN: Ruan Botha, Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Jaco Taute, Elton Jantjies (all Lions)
OUT: Demetri Catrakilis (Kings), Tyrone Holmes (Colomiers), Nick Koster (Bath), Quinn Roux (Leinster)

Bulls
IN: Marcell van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Willie Wepener (Clermont), Paul Willemse, Grant Hattingh, Callie Visagie, Rudi Paige, Lionel Mapoe (all Lions)
OUT: CJ Stander (Munster), Gerrit-Jan van Velvze (Northampton), Rayno Gerber (Rovigo), Johann Sadie (Cheetahs).

Sharks
IN: Butch James, Franco van der Merwe (both Lions)
OUT: Steven Sykes (Kings), Ross Skeate (Agen), Frederic Michalak (Toulon)

Cheetahs
IN: Joubert Engelbrecht (Leopards), Elgar Watts (Boland), Cornal Hendricks (Boland), JP Nel (Shining Arcs) Johann Sadie (Bulls), Torsten van Jaarsveld (Pumas) Rossouw de Klerk (Bulls), Lodeweyk de Jager (Leopards), Tertius Daniller (WP), Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs), Caylib Oosthuizen (Lions)
OUT: WP Nel (Edinburgh), George Earle (Llanelli Scarlets), Sias Ebersohn (Force), Izak van der Westhuizen (Edinburgh), Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls), Phillip Snyman (Bok Sevens), Ashley Johnson (Wasps).

Kings
IN: Demetri Catrakilis (WP), Andries Strauss (Cheetahs), Steven Sykes (Sharks), Bandise Maku (Lions), Michael Killian (Lions), Waylon Murray (Lions), Nichols Vergallo (Toulouse), Hadleigh Parkes (Auckland)
OUT: Paul Perez (Samoa), Louis Strydom, Clint Newland


18 Comments

  • 1.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 11:35 am

    Waylon Murray & Michael Killian might still have been with the Lions as well if not for this whole mess.

    Not so sure with Jano Vermaak though.

  • 2.Baylion: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:12 pm

    Players not mentioned:

    Michael Killian – Kings
    Doppies la Grange – Treviso
    Rudy Paige – Bulls
    Jacobie Adriaanse – Llanelli Scarletts (Wales)
    Josh Strauss – Glasgow Warriors (Scotland)
    Etienne Oosthuizen – Brumbies (Australia)
    Wikus van Heerden – Retired
    Cobus Grobbelaar – Retired
    Waylon Murray – Kings

  • 3.Baylion: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:13 pm

    @hendrikp-1: Jano left 2011 already.

  • 4.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:14 pm

    @hendrikp-1: Vermaak’s departure was plain and simple poaching by Heineken’s Henchmen.

    “Come to the Bulls and he’ll make you a Springbok when he gets the job.”

  • 5.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:22 pm

    @Baylion-3:

    True but would it have happened if not for all the talk about the Lions being demoted? It made the decision easier for him…

    @BrumbiesBoy-4:

    Yup. And to think Heyneke tried to tell us he’s not biased towards the Bulls. Blerry liar.

  • 6.Baylion: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:28 pm

    @hendrikp-5: Jano’ contract had a clause that he could leave if the Lions ended in the bottom 3 in 2011, which they did.

  • 7.keo: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm

    @Baylion-2: thanks will add them. I ignored the retired guys but will add the rest

  • 8.keo: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 12:35 pm

    have made the update

  • 9.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 13:29 pm

    Is Sias Ebersohn leaving the Cheetahs to go to the Cheetahs?

  • 10.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 14:30 pm

    Kings bringing in a good blend of youth and experience…..where even the youth are experienced.

  • 11.keo: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 14:38 pm

    @weakoma-9: lol to the Force have made the correction. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • 12.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 14:42 pm

    @weakoma-9: Sias is at the Force…

  • 13.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 14:46 pm

    @keo-7:

    Any chance you can add ET to the retired list :P

  • 14.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 15:03 pm

    @Transformation-12: Thanks, was merely pointing out the mistake.

  • 15.uhuru: Reply to this comment
    18 Jan 2013, 17:54 pm

    Nick Koster :(

  • 16.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2013, 00:39 am

    Is Grant Hatting a good player?

    We already have Arno at no 8

    I won’t mention Spies

  • 17.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2013, 10:53 am

    Interesting fact:

    Cornel Hess (2008 + 09), Chene Okafor (2009 + 10) and Mlungisi Bali (2010) are the only baby bok locks – who have represented SA u20, in the last five years – that are not part of any SR squad this year….

    The other two, Sebastian De Chaves is currently based in France and Sabelo Nhlapo has since been converted to a prop…

  • 18.numba4lock: Reply to this comment
    19 Jan 2013, 13:59 pm

    @mxhosa-17: in depth knowledge there

    you know your stuff. keep it up. thats the kind of analysis i like to see

    @keo-8: thats (5) former lions players at the bulls, not (4)

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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