Springok star Franco joins Irish as Blues count costs
FRANCO van der Merwe will this week complete a move to Aviva Premiership newcomers London Irish after failing to make an appearance for Cardiff Blues.
The South African international joined the Blues from Ulster this summer, but financial uncertainty at the Welsh region during the summer saw him released before he’d played a game.
Van der Merwe, 34, has been on trial at Irish and was among the club’s replacements for their preseason friendly with Ealing Trailfinders last Saturday.
Issues over Van der Merwe’s eligibility to play in England have held up official confirmation of the forward’s transfer, but The
Rugby Paper understands that paperwork is close to completion.
“It was a board decision to move Franco on based on financial difficulties through the summer,” said Blues boss Wilson. “Second row is an area we wanted to strengthen and that’s why I decided to bring Franco in. But from a business point of view the board wanted to cut costs.”
Van der Merwe’s move to the Blues for the start of this season was confirmed in January 2017. But with chairman Peter Thomas keen to tighten the purse strings at Cardiff Arms Park amid monetary challenges and what he saw as a lack of support from the Welsh Rugby Union, it was decided the one-cap Springbok should be released without playing.
The Blues have had to continue to pay Van der Merwe while the final details of his move to Irish have been ironed out by the Rugby Football Union.
“The situation with Franco might have been different had the announcement of the new PRO14 been made earlier,” Wilson said. “At the time there were financial uncertainties. They are more positive now with the South African sides coming in, but the decision was made before those teams joined. It wasn’t my decision, because I’m keen to build the squad at the Blues.
“But these things happen and we just have to get on with it now. At the moment our squad will stay as it is which is a positive after what were some uncertain times.
“Now it’s an opportunity for others to step in. Guys like Seb Davies will get a chance this season at lock. Things are a lot more positive now than they were a month or so ago. We’ve got a good squad training now and we’re looking forward to the first game of the new season.”