Lions grab Wikus
18 Jan 2010
Wikus van Heerden will join the Lions in time for this year’s Currie Cup.
On Friday Van Heerden confirmed that he’ll leave Saracens at the end of the northern hemisphere season, and although reports suggested he could return to the Bulls, on Monday the GLRU announced that Van Heerden would feature for the Lions. Although Van Heerden won the Super 14 with the Bulls, he originally played for the Lions and has now signed a deal with them until the end of 2012.
‘The Lions have always been a very special team to me,’ said Van Heerden. ‘I spent nine years at the Lions before moving over to the Bulls. At that stage I needed a change. With all the changes at the Lions now and with the new people appointed, this is an exciting and ideal opportunity for me to make the most of what is left of my rugby career.
‘And who knows, maybe I can be a part of a winning Super 14 or Currie Cup team while at the Lions. Since I left the Lions I’ve grown as a player and have gathered much experience at both the Bulls and Saracens. I am hoping to utilise this experience and make an impact when I join the Lions later this year.’
Van Heerden is the second player with international experience signed by the union in recent weeks, and will team up with Carlos Spencer in the domestic competition.
‘It’s always good to sign a new player, but when it’s a former star player returning, it makes it a little more special,’ said CEO Manie Reyneke. ‘Wikus returning is exciting, and we see this as just one more step in the right direction for the GLRU.’
The 2007 World Cup-winner has also made no secret of his hopes of forcing his way back into the South African squad for the global showpiece in 2011, and this move will provide him with ample time to prove himself to Peter de Villiers.
68 Comments
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19 Jan 2010, 00:35 am
and lay off calling the Lions rubbish, I wont remind the cape boys of there drought if they dont remind us of ours lol
19 Jan 2010, 00:42 am
Francois
I’m happy for the Lions and I like Wickus, he’s a great player.
And they’ll have a good loose trio with him and Baywatch.
Just suggesting…
19 Jan 2010, 00:45 am
Francois
Hey! Our drought is ending soon mate!
Plus at least we made the CC semi’s last year
lol
19 Jan 2010, 00:50 am
cheers WP, yeah will be a good trio, hope Baywatch is on his toes though, Van Deventer and Minnie look to be good players but I expect Cobus to respond, lets see, what are you guys gonna do about a flyhalf, not sure I am the biggest De Waal fan, but it seems as if Bash might not offer enough with the boot and what about Conrad Hoffman? thoughts?
19 Jan 2010, 00:56 am
Yep, Province looking the part, and your chaps were full value against the Bulls nearly pulled it off gotta take heart from the fact that you played arguably the best Bulls side ever and came within a whisker, now if my lions could catch that sort of belief well then we might be business
19 Jan 2010, 00:56 am
Yes I like van Deventer is going to be a decent player. Pity you lost Alberts… Who’ll play 8?
Agree, Grant has a weak boot for a 10. Hoffmann seems a good prospect but I’m not sure he’ll get too much game time. We also have Lionel Cronje too now…
I’ll be happy with de Waal at 10, Grant 12 and Jaque Fourie at 13. But the only problem is that Juan de Jongh has shown his talent and misses out.
But I reckon there’ll be a lot of juggling at horses for courses going on, it’s a long season.
19 Jan 2010, 01:02 am
55 francois
I’d love the Lions too. It would be wonderful for SA rugby. Maybe Carlos can spark your boys
19 Jan 2010, 01:03 am
sheesh Willem was a big loss for us, I have a bit of a weird Idea for eight, maybe go with Clever and try to use him in the same manner that Luke was used at Province but I really like Jonothan Mokuena and he deserves a shot at it, I really hope he delivers thought he was outstanding at Griquas
19 Jan 2010, 01:06 am
The real Francois on the picture box with Owen, re varsity cup, sigh mon capitan!!!!
19 Jan 2010, 01:07 am
Oh yes, Mokuena should be the starting 8. He had a brilliant CC last year… Clever might be used as an impact player again I reckon. possibly
19 Jan 2010, 01:10 am
A Lions legend.
19 Jan 2010, 01:12 am
ag Todd has his detractors but i think he is a more than useful player, a year of Super rugby and the Currie cup will have sharpened him up a lot
19 Jan 2010, 01:15 am
Yeah agree, when he turns it on he’s really good. High work rate and touches of brilliance.
Anyway Cheers mate.
19 Jan 2010, 01:16 am
There is a young center at the Lions that I really hope has an impact this year by the name of Walter Venter, in the Christian Scholtz mold also time for Burton Francis to come of age I must admit to being rather surprised at the fact that the Bulls let him go, think that kid has got horbols of talent
19 Jan 2010, 01:17 am
Cheers WP lekker doss ou maat,
19 Jan 2010, 01:22 am
I also rate Walter Venter actually. Saw him playing for UJ in the Varsity Cup. Looks the goods.
You too boet.
19 Jan 2010, 04:26 am
Walter just needs to be actually used now, perhaps with Loffie gone he will.
19 Jan 2010, 05:01 am
And so several important NH players still hungry for Springbok colors and playing in the WC will return before the WC. I think Jean De Villiers, JB Botha and maybe 2 or so others that could be utilized at the Boks will come back.
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