Elton not lost to Lions – just yet
23 Jan 2013
Elton Jantjies will play for the Lions in the 2013 Currie Cup.
Jantjies confirmed to keo.co.za that he is on an eight-month Super Rugby contract with the Stormers, after which he will see out his Currie Cup contract with the Lions.
He will only then make a decision where to play domestically in the 2014 season.
‘I am not on loan from the Lions to the Stormers. I am on a Stormers Super Rugby contract,’ he said. ‘But I gave a commitment to the Lions to play in the Currie Cup. I think all the Lions players were shocked when it was confirmed that the Lions would not play in Super Rugby. I don’t think any of us thought it could happen and with the uncertainty of who would play [the Kings or Lions] my focus was always with the Lions. Every player wants to play Super Rugby so when it was confirmed the Lions were out I had several offers from within South Africa.
‘I settled on the Stormers after consultation with my father, my agent and after much prayer. I am religious and a lot of thought went into the move. I loved playing for the Lions and certainly won’t be rushed into making a decision about 2014. My focus now is on the Stormers and giving everything to the squad.’
Jantjies said he has dealt with the move as he would when called up to the national squad.
‘When you play for the Boks and are involved with the Bok set-up you give that your total concentration. You work with the national coaches, who invariably were very different in many ways to what we had at the Lions, and Super Rugby and provincial set-ups are so different to national set-ups. I give my all to the team I am with at the time and to the coaches guiding my contribution to the team. I don’t see myself as a Lions guy playing for the Stormers just like I won’t see myself as a Stormers guy playing for the Lions in the Currie Cup. I am a South African rugby player hoping to excel for the Stormers in Super Rugby and a South African rugby player hoping to be as successful when playing for the Lions in the Currie Cup.
‘Both Super Rugby and Currie Cup are opportunities to make a case for national squad selection. If the team does well and I am part of that reason then the rewards will follow.’
Jantjies said he is always in touch with his former team-mates and has a healthy relationship with the coaches at both regions.
‘There is a lot of respect for the situation of the Lions players who are playing for different regions this season but from the moment I arrived in Cape Town I took on the attitude that the Stormers are my team for the next eight months and they get all my effort and my loyalty.’
Jantjies made his Test debut in 2012 after first touring with the Boks in 2010. He played flyhalf against the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2010, but Test caps are not given to Bok players for matches against the Barbarians.
He completed his schooling at Hoerskool Florida in Gauteng, where he played for the Lions Craven Week side after spending his first two years of high school at Paarl Gymnasium in the Western Cape.
By Mark Keohane
38 Comments
23 Jan 2013, 10:33 am
this kid has got honour…
23 Jan 2013, 10:34 am
@grant10-1: I found him very considered in his answers. Gave a lot of thought to them and very composed generally. He has also been working very hard on his conditioning and has dropped four kilograms but added good upper body muscle mass.
23 Jan 2013, 10:41 am
If I read this right (loan vs contract) Elton will not be available for the Lions for the Wooden Spoon Knock Out games, unlike the players who are on loan to other franchises.
23 Jan 2013, 10:43 am
Comes across as loyal, level-headed & down to earth.
I wish him well.
23 Jan 2013, 10:45 am
@Baylion-3:
If I remember correctly, the relegation matches will only take place after the Super Rugby final (although no date has been set yet).
Jantjies committment to the Stormers ends when they play their last match of the campaign.
23 Jan 2013, 10:47 am
@Baylion-3: Uhm i think he will be available for that game.
23 Jan 2013, 10:48 am
I am more interested on how Coetzee’s loyalty with Grant will be tested…
23 Jan 2013, 10:48 am
@PissAnt-5: There’s no time for those matches after the final with the Rugby Championships starting. According to the Lions schedule the matches will be played on the same weekends as the SR semis and final
23 Jan 2013, 10:49 am
@Sasuke-6: Only if the Stormers don’t make the SR semis and final
23 Jan 2013, 10:49 am
@PissAnt-5: So he wont be available for the play-offs. Pity
23 Jan 2013, 10:53 am
@keo-2: Saw him out and about a little whie back. He certainy looked as though he had lost weight. Glad to see you confirm this.
He also seems to have matured somewhat – reading his answers in your piece.
23 Jan 2013, 10:55 am
@Baylion-9: So Stormers take preference.
23 Jan 2013, 10:57 am
@Baylion-8:
Well that just sucks. If two SA teams are in the semi’s, Lions are basically playing with their Vodacom Cup side.
23 Jan 2013, 10:58 am
What happens after the Curry Cup will be very interesting. I think he will then be in a position of strength to negotiate a very good deal financially. That is to say if he makes the expected impact at the Stormers.
23 Jan 2013, 11:12 am
@Eekay-14: Yes he will be in a strong position. I hope he signs with the Stormers.
23 Jan 2013, 11:15 am
UFO wont like this article………
Son, you must nail your flag against the post and say stormers or lions. Commit yourself demmitt.
23 Jan 2013, 11:19 am
He went to the Stormres to stay!
The Sea level rugby’s more suitable for Jantjies
All we want back are Taute, Rhodes, and Josh the Animal if possible!
23 Jan 2013, 11:21 am
@Hondo-17: Unfortunately Rhodes & Josh are gone on longer term contracts. Pity.
23 Jan 2013, 11:24 am
@PissAnt-7:
Grant is not coming back,
I doubt he has any intention, as an 80% kicker there’s a wealthier market to rip.
23 Jan 2013, 11:30 am
@Baylion-18:
Rhodes is the silent monster, he does a lot of damage unnoticed, he can play too
He will have a stiff competition with Elstadt whom I also rate highly, and then Don Armand is up and coming,
pretty crowded there
23 Jan 2013, 11:30 am
@Hondo-19:
He is coming back, just depends on when his Japanese club is kicked out of their local competition. He might even be available for the 1st game against the Bulls.
23 Jan 2013, 11:31 am
@PissAnt-7: he needs a replacment for JDV, who is old and worn out, and Grant is that man – Elton is lost to the Lions for ever!
23 Jan 2013, 11:38 am
@RL-22:
Jean is vice-captain, he is there to stay.
23 Jan 2013, 12:27 pm
looking at a lot of the sports blogs and websites i see very few articles about the Bulls, hopefully this is a good omen and they are keeping a low profile, head down ar se up and away to the top they hopefully go.
23 Jan 2013, 12:47 pm
@Mr Black-16:
hehehe…
mr black showing how silly he is…
very good article by keo and very impressed with elton…
no ambiguity at all and everyone knows exactly where elton stands and where his commitments lie… could’t ask for or expect any more…
well done all round…
now we just hope he has a stormer of a super season with us…!!
23 Jan 2013, 12:50 pm
@ufo-25:
You got the joke? Love it!
23 Jan 2013, 12:57 pm
@Mr Black-26:
23 Jan 2013, 12:58 pm
So,Hondo is a Lions supporter.
23 Jan 2013, 14:19 pm
@PissAnt-7: It shouldn’t be loyalty. The best guy must play, please!! I would love to see Jantjies in the outfit
23 Jan 2013, 14:27 pm
@@whistle@blower@-29:
Grant must be back up to Elton, I have no doubt about that. Grant is average, will always be.
23 Jan 2013, 15:23 pm
@PissAnt-30:
i’d prefer tim swiel to be backup to elton… especially if elton’s not gonna be with us for CC… peter will no doubt head back to japan…
so may as well get tim some experience during the s15
23 Jan 2013, 15:39 pm
@ufo-31:
I’d prefer Tim to complete a Currie Cup campaign first – Gary should still be around though?
23 Jan 2013, 15:53 pm
@PissAnt-32:
yeah… probably wise…
but gary is injured… or was… on the stormers site he was listed as one of the players who was not participating in training… can’t remember the details now…
23 Jan 2013, 15:54 pm
- Flyhalf Gary van Aswegen (ankle) – will be conservative with his return which should be around mid-February.
23 Jan 2013, 16:27 pm
@PissAnt-30: Not a lota tricks in his arsenal. Pedestrian and one dimensional getting his backline away. Kicking n defence. His traits. Wud love to see two fire eaters at 9 n 10
23 Jan 2013, 22:31 pm
Thanks Lions, and please take Taute back as well.
24 Jan 2013, 09:44 am
Kevin de Klerk apparently confirmed to LionsWorld that Jantjies will play for the Stormers should the Stormers reach the semis & final and not for the Lions if the knockout matches are at the same time.
http://www.lionsworld.co.za/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4039
24 Jan 2013, 17:50 pm
@Baylion-37: Makes sense. He is contracted and paid for a season. Sure AC would not have accepted a half baked deal
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