It is now official that the Lions players mentioned will be playing for the Sharks.
What makes one wonder though is the little the Lions management knows of what is going on in their camp , and on their contracts.

Or is Mr Reyneke trying to Act big in the press while actually looking like a total fool?

With courtecy to News24 and Pieter Jordaan
Johannesburg – Willem Alberts is one of the Sharks’ three Lions acquisitions who has already loosened up with the Durbanites for the 2010 season.

Although the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) threw a lifeline to Alberts and his teammate Louis Ludik, to prevent their departure to Durban, the two are now officially part of the Sharks’ training squad for the Super 14.

Ludik is undergoing rehabilitation for his knee operation earlier this year.

A third Lion, lock, Gerhard Mostert, has already taken part in the Sharks practices.

The Sharks only got back together this week and Plumtree has confirmed that Alberts and company already form part of pre-season preparations.

“Naturally we have to prepare without our Springboks, but the players are doing heavy conditioning,” said Plumtree.

The Lions Super 14 squad, who started sharpening up early this month, will begin training on the field next week.

Johan Ackermann, the new assistant coach for the Lions and ex-Bok lock, says that the Lions will only begin field practice once the head coach, Dick Muir, returns from Europe.

Muir, the backline coach of the Springboks, will then have his first look at his new group of players.

The Lions’ group may still consist of 74 players, but it will be slimmed down to 40 players by the start of next week.

“This is our fourth week in the gym – with the goal that we make the players hungry to practice on the field again. They must crave it,” said Ackermann yesterday.

Of the new acquisitions, Jonathan Mokuena (eighthman), Burton Francis (flyhalf) and Marius Delport (centre/wing) are already training with the Lions, but Jacques Lombard (lock) and Tonderai Chavanga (wing) are undergoing rehabilitation.

According to Ackermann, Lombard, who joined the Lions from Griquas, has to undergo a knee operation on Monday.

He will be out of action for two weeks, Chavhanga is recovering from a shoulder operation.

Johan Snyman (lock) is still recovering from a back operation and scrumhalf, Jano Vermaak only had plates removed out of his broken ankle last week.

Ackermann looks forward to the new challenge as the Lions forwards’ coach.

“I am beginning at the deep end with a tough competition (the Super 14).

“But Dick has already done great things with big teams.

“And if I have to get involved with any guy, then that would be Dick, because he can lift a team,” said Ackermann.