The Sharks have signed veteran lock Ross Skeate from French club Toulon on a two-year contract.
The former Stormers and Toulon player will be a great asset to The Sharks. He will be available for them in the upcoming Currie Cup season. After leaving Western Province and the Stormers two years ago, he joined Toulon who were on the brink of relegation.
This season they became European Challenge Cup finalists, as well as qualifying for the Heineken Cup. He is acknowledged as a leader, who assisted in the successful turnabout for the club. “My desire to play in a team with a blend of international players, learn a new language and improve my forward play took me to France and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Toulon – which I see as a success,” Skeate said.
“However, despite the team’s fortunes, I have a desire to return to South Africa and have chosen The Sharks as the right culture and team environment to continue my career.
I believe my rugby philosophy and that of The Sharks is very similar and hence my decision to play in Durban. I look forward to my stint with the Sharks.” Skeate boasts an impressive playing pedigree that includes age group representativity (SA Under-19 and Under-21), Western Province and Stormers (90 caps, including captaincy), Emerging Springboks, UK Barbarians, Southern Kings versus British & Irish Lions and 45 caps for Toulon in the French Top 14, as well as eight caps in the European Cup.
“With the loss of one of our most senior players, Johann Muller, we have decided to add an experienced player in Ross Skeate,” coach John Plumtree told the Sharks website. “He is considered a senior player at Toulon, as he was at Western Province, and that is something that stands him in good stead here at The Sharks because of his leadership qualities and experience. He’s a fantastic character.
“He is a mobile, versatile player, an intelligent person who brings all round lock-specific as well as forward athleticism to the game. We look forward to having him here and welcome him with open arms.”
im stuck in the middle here on this one
not a bad lock and when playing for the stormers was not a great lock either BUT
has the experience gained in france made him a better player?????
part of me says a waste of money as we dont have bad depth at lock , but we also dont have great experience there
pity the sharks are so quiet on whats going on though as backline depth at center for example is very poor
is ruan leaving>??? and that for europe just before the wprld cup??
is smitty leaving for the lions??
so many unanswered questions
Skeate will improve at the Sharks, just like everyone else…we instil passion and desire in the guys, otherwise they must train with the real Sharks at the aquarium.
lol 4man and here one can get quite good at talking to oneself lol
4man we need to be buying quailty backs though
we should have broken the bank for a Jdiv and J fourie
and then a top quality 10
Skeate is a good lock….one of the guys who bailed because the firm Matfield, Botha, Rossouw didnt leave much room for anyone else. Playing in the current Stormers environment, with Luke gone, he may have had a look in, but he was one of the better guys in a struggling team at that time. Very demotivational.
Dont worry about the Sharks, their first half of S14 was stuffed because of 3 flyhalves falling by the wayside literally the week before the start and the still just lost, their 2nd half of S14 showed their true character. At the end of the Currie Cup, you’ll be wondering why you were worried. someone must just cull Streauli though…the man is poison.
@ sharky_forever: Seriously, dont worry about the backs, I am confident the programme will start bringing the right guys through now. I am just not convinced Dumond can make a big step up to S14 level. I would have got Peter Grant to come home, he is a Pinetown boy after all.
John Smit should actually go to the Lions, he will be good for them, they need leadership. Too many good players there going to waste. John is an old Pretoria Boys pupil and his formative rugby years were in the Tvl, Pta and Rustenburg. He should end his career there. Not sure who will Captain Natal then, but am sure there are enough good guys in the squad. John….maybe has one more world cup in him and with him there fully fit and his inspirational leadership, then we stand a good chance of claiming the cup for our own forever (3 wins and its yours). Victor under pressure is not a good Captain, that is his track record, but to be fair we havent been under pressure that much lately, our aptterns and mangement of the team is well established.
Where is Puma?
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