CJ van der Linde has signed a contract of just over 2 years to join the Lions from 1st August 2011 to 31st October 2013 the Johannesburg based Union announced in a media release this morning.
Herewith the full announcement as received from the Lions.
A new Lion joins the Pride
Johannesburg, 21 July 2011 – The Golden Lions Rugby Union announced the signing of Springbok 2007 Rugby World Cup winner, Prop CJ van der Linde. Currently playing for the DHL Western Province, van der Linde will join the MTN Golden Lions Absa Currie Cup team in August.
His contract commences on 1 August 2011 until 31 October 2013.
Van der Linde began his professional career in 1999 when he represented South Africa at U/19 level. He has progressed through the ranks, from U/21 to senior and has been a Springbok since 2002.
CJ has spent the majority of his career with the Free State Cheetahs, and played for the Cats (a combination of Cheetahs and Lions players) Super 12 team in 2004 and 2005. He moved to Cape Town and signed with the Western Province at the end of 2010. He is currently with the Springbok Tri Nations squad in Australasia.
Coach John Mitchell is looking forward to CJ’s arrival: “CJ comes with a wealth of experience and has tremendous value to add to the Lions. I’m really looking forward to working with a player of CJ’s caliber and experience. I’ve always believed in developing youngsters as part of the expansion process and exposing them to experienced mentors such as CJ,” said Mitchell.
GLRU CEO Manie Reyneke also had only praises for CJ.
It is no secret that we’ve been speaking to CJ for the past few weeks and we are both honoured and humbled to have a player of his caliber and vast experience joining the Lions.” said Reyneke.
July 21st, 2011 at 13:26 SAST
Certainly not a BAD signing, but for me, ummmmmmm. I’m not a CJ fan, never have been and it will take an awful lot to change my mind.
Lions need a good solid scrummaging Tighthead to anchor their scrum, and I’m not convinced CJ is that man.
People will argue that he did ok in Ireland, but I can’t recall him ever IMPOSING himself on any props of quality.
He may be ok at provincial level, let’s wait and see.
Certainly a step in the right direction for the Lions though.
July 21st, 2011 at 13:37 SAST
As a scrummager he is totally crap, and always injured.
July 21st, 2011 at 13:54 SAST
Agree with both of you but was wondering if he could not help with the mentoring of the younger guys as well?
Do they have good props at the moment?
July 21st, 2011 at 14:19 SAST
@ Tripples:
The youngsters there at the moment have POTENTIAL.
I’d rather see the Lions spend some decent money and get someone like Jason Leonard to “mentor” and coach the props. You won’t find a better scrummager anywhere.
A little known fact is that up until his retirement, he was the highest paid member of the England squad, bar none. (Info’ from a very reputable source) Just goes to show how much the Poms value a good prop.
July 21st, 2011 at 14:34 SAST
He is a mobile prop, and it will be interesting to see him scrum against the likes of Beast and Gurthro. He should do well against most of the tightheads in SA. And he would have picked up some useful new techniques in Ireland.
July 21st, 2011 at 15:28 SAST
Should have read looseheads
July 21st, 2011 at 17:40 SAST
ek verstaan nie so lekker nie wiepie sukkel met hulle scrumme maar laat hom gaan
July 21st, 2011 at 18:41 SAST
7@ smallies72:
Janee, ou CJ word nou ook ‘n regte huursoldaat… eers Cheetahs, toe oorsee, toe Stormers en nou die Leeutjies.
July 21st, 2011 at 19:41 SAST
@ grootblousmile:
hy moet terug kom cheetahs toe ons sal hom weer leer scrum,en hy sal goeie backup vir wp nel wees,dan kan wp teen swakker scrums soos die wp en tjarks n ruskans kry