• PAGE 28 DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY APRIL 25 2013
Coetzee, Lambie among seven Sharks to get Bok contracts
OUT of a total of 15 players who were yesterday awarded Springbok contracts for 2013, seven of them are from the Sharks, including youngsters such as Marcell Coetzee and Pat Lambie.
The group – whose average age is just over 26 years – consists of the core of the Springboks’ Test players from 2012, while players who are based overseas or who have signed contracts with overseas clubs were not awarded national contracts. In addition to Coetzee and Lambie, the other Sharks players to receive Springbok contracts are Jannie du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, Willem Alberts, Bismarck du Plessis and Frans Steyn.
“We’ve kept as many of our top players in South Africa as we could by awarding them national contracts, despite the powerful lure of the pound, euro and yen,” said Saru chief executive Jurie Roux.
“We worked hard with the Springbok Management and Sarpa (South African Rugby Players Association) to ensure the best possible deal is placed on the table for the players. A further five contracts are still available and will be finalised in due course.
“Last year provided Heyneke Meyer with an ideal opportunity to see what is needed in the Test arena, and by contracting this group of players, we have secured a core group for 2013. The average age of the contracted group is not very high for Test rugby, which bodes well for the future.”
The players who represented the Springboks last year but will be leaving South Africa to play abroad in the next couple of months and were therefore not awarded contracts are Andries Bekker, Juandre Kruger, Morné Steyn, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Zane Kirchner.
“All six of these players were going to receive contracts, but the fact that they have indicated that they have signed with overseas clubs or are planning to do so, has ruled them out of the reckoning,” said Roux.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said: “I’m very excited about the contract group. Most of these players showed last year they have what it takes to play for the Springboks and they can only get more experience and improve further.
“Losing experienced players to overseas teams is not ideal, but it’s their right to further their careers abroad.” Springbok contract group: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Tendai Mtawarira, Pierre Spies, Frans Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen.