Edinburgh bolstered by the capture of Bezuidenhout
South African ready for a new challenge
Tuesday 31 december 2013 EDINBURGH have added to their stand-off strength with one of the top Currie Cup performers from South Africa, Carl Bezuidenhout.
Head coach Alan Solomons spoke last week of his frustrations at losing young Scot Harry Leonard to injury on top of Piers Francis, whose return date remains unclear, and another promising young Scot Gregor Hunter, who suffered a serious knee injury at the start of the season and is not expected to return until the final games and even that remains up in the air.
Solomons has been questioned over a signing policy that has featured a handful of players being brought to the Scottish capital from his former club Eastern Province, but the former Springbok backs coach has made no secret of his plan being twofold: to use whatever resources he can find around the world to turn Edinburgh into a squad capable of competing for the RaboDirect PRO12 title and Heineken Cup honours, and to develop young Scottish talent.
After bringing in English lad Tony Fenner on trial last week, he is delighted to have persuaded Bezuidenhout to have joined, fresh from winning the 2013 Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup, on an extended trial until the end of the season. The 27-year-old, who was the Currie Cup’s top points scorer, began training with the squad at Murrayfield yesterday.
Solomons said: “Carl [Bezuidenhout] has performed really well for the Pumas and played a pivotal role in their Currie Cup success this year.
“His game management is very good, he’s got a good boot out of hand and for goal, and is very athletic. He now has an excellent opportunity to show us what he is capable of, while also solving an immediate issue in that we are desperately short of fly-halves. We will have to see how he tracks for us but I think he has the ability.”
Edinburgh currently FORMER Scotland winger Pat Nevin has found time in his busy schedule to add another string to his bow – hospitality host at Hibernian.
One of the most hardworking and ubiquitous pundits around, Nevin can be seen and heard giving his expert opinion on a variety of networks. A renowned muso, he also pops up occasionally as a DJ, his most recent appearance at a John Peel tribute night in October.
Hibs announced his latest gig on their website yesterday: “Hibernian are pleased to announce former Scotland internationalist, TV pundit and Hibee, Pat Nevin will be the match host for both the Gallery Restaurant and Eighteen75 Restaurant for the FORMER Saltires cricketer John Blain will have a triple role at West of Scotland next season – as player, coach and captain. Blain, who recently became the best-qualified cricket coach in Scotland, has been playercoach at Hamilton Crescent for the last two seasons, but has accepted the additional on-field responsibility as skipper. The 34 year-old pace bowler, who replaces Ross Brown, said: “I’m happy to lead the side from the front. We have some really talented young players coming through and I’m really excited.” Edinburgh derby on Thursday night. There are now only ten hospitality places remaining and the deadline has now been extended to midday on Hogmanay, so please book urgently in order to avoid disappointment – call 0131 656 7073”. THE Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all fired their head coaches a day after the regular season concluded as part of the NFL’s so-called “Black Monday”. The Redskins axed Mike Shanahan, the Vikings parted ways with Leslie Frazier, the Buccaneers fired Greg Schiano, and the Lions axed Jim Schwartz after each team finished well out of the playoff picture. The announcements came a day after the Cleveland Browns fired head coach Rob Chudzinski .