The Cheetahs have snapped up the signature of Emerging Springbok lock Wilhelm Steenkamp from the Blue Bulls.
SuperSport
Steenkamp, who has had some bad luck this year despite playing good rugby whenever he was on the field, has been deemed surplus to the Bulls’ rather extensive requirements for next season, and he has signed for the Cheetahs on a one-year contract.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske confirmed the signature to SuperSport.com on Monday, saying he was happy with his latest purchase.
“We believe he is a talented player, and will really fit in well here. We’re really looking forward to getting him into the side,” Drotske told SuperSport.com.
“We’ve signed him on a one-year contract and we will see then.”
Blue Bulls High Performance Manager Ian Schwartz said he had not confirmed the loss of Steenkamp just yet, but acknowledged he was on his way out at the Bulls.
“I have heard it, but nothing official has come through. Wilhelm is a great player, but we didn’t offer him a contract for the coming season because we have four Springbok locks and recently signed Fudge Mabeta and Juandré Kruger on new contracts,” Schwartz told SuperSport.com.
Steenkamp was unhappy at his sudden fall from grace from being first choice behind Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw to suddenly not being able to command a place in the Currie Cup team on a regular basis now that they are on Bok duty.
Steenkamp’s decline came when he was loaned to the Sharks in the Super 14, after being the Emerging Springbok lock in last year’s win over the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town.
The Sharks didn’t give him much game time after Flip van der Merwe, a player once behind him in the queue, had become a Springbok. The Bulls have also consistently chosen Kruger and Mabeta ahead of Steenkamp in this year’s Currie Cup. Ironically, Steenkamp’s younger brother, De Kock, saw more Super 14 action than him at the Stormers before getting injured.
“He may have been a bit unhappy at not getting game time, as any player would probably be,” Schwartz added. “But he has been magnificent in his work ethic. He has certainly been professional in his outlook and has given his all on the field, and his performances proves that.”
There was some talk that Steenkamp would join the Cheetahs for the remainer of the Currie Cup, but Schwartz says no formal request was received.
However Drotske did confirm this, saying agreement could not be reached on a date for his release. SuperSport.com understands the Cheetahs asked for him immediately, but the Blue Bulls would only release him on September 9, after Bakkies Botha had served out his suspension.
When Botha returns to Currie Cup action, as is likely, Steenkamp will be the fourth lock in a squad that can only play three at any time
Is reg so boetie….die Vrystaat is die beste plek om te gaan leer rugby speel….is net jammer ons het nie die geld om julle almal te hou wanneer julle begin goed speel nie. 🙂
Het jy gesien die slot uit ons slot fabriek het n modifikasie gehad daar in Durbs nou is hy seker n surfer slot en pas nie so mooi aan in die Bul kamp nie. Kom van slotte uitleen na daai kontrei van alrounders.
@ superBul: 🙂
Wat, het die ou nou n “frosty tip” hairstyle en dra hy nou “RipCurl” shorts?
al julle mense wat so goed is met al die statistieke en dien meer… (Biltong…eh hemmm…./nudge…/nudge you love this kind of thing right?)
Kan enige iemand dalk n soort van n lys van Bokke optrek oor die laaste 100jaar, waar hulle gebore is en vir wie en ook hoe lank hulle gespeel het? Behoort redelik interresant te wees.
@ bos_otter:
Ken jy hierdie stats site, hy werk maklik
http://www.genslin.us/bokke/
hou jou cursor oor STATISTICS gaan dan na SCHOOLS miskien help dit
ek sal bietjie krap en kyk of ek nie geboortedorp ook daar vind nie
Onder MISCELLANEOUS sal jy BIRTHPLACE vind
@ superBul:Cheers Super….I will check it out tommorow
Watching Bakkies now on Superrugby , he really does not look like a guy that can hurt a fly.
@ superBul: Super…turn into a fly and go sit on his cheeck 🙂
I like the bloke..amazing player….was the same with James Small…have such a passion for rugby. He just needs to be a bit more “slim” when it comes to pushing the bounderies….like McCaw.
@ superBul:Super….when you open that link you’ve provided, you get this banner with some (not nearly all) of the South African greats on there..there is Brian Habana, Joost, John Smit,Danie Gerber,Francois Pienaar,Frik Du Preez, Naas Botha,Bobby Skinstad,Dr Craven…
My question is….who the bloke with the “snor” at the top teft hand corner, and also, who’s the bloke between Naas and Dr Craven?
Between Naas and Dok must be Andre Venter , but McLook or Pitman might know the snorman
Good news for the VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT
bos_otter wrote:
Andre Venter is between Naas en Craven. The bloke with the “snor” is Paul Roos.
Good Luck to Steenkamp, he will fit in well at the Cheetahs.
@ Snoek: Thanks McLook..
@ superBul: Super…thanks, for that link…there is a provinces area as well.
Province with the most players produced
Western Province 234
Lions 138
Blue Bulls 86
Cheetahs 68
Sharks 61
Griquas 47
Elephants 28
Bulldogs 14
Cavaliers 10
Rhodesia 8
Pumas 7
Leopards 6
Eagles 5
Falcons 3
South West Africa 3
@ bos_otter:
So, met ander woorde….718 manne het al die vooreg gehad om die groen/goud jersey te dra. Nie gedink die getal sal so hoog wees nie.
n’ paar jaar terug staan die maintenance ou met die bestuurder van die Blue Bulls en praat.
Maintenance ou “more meneer, hoe gaan dit hier by die Bulls”
Bestuurder “Nee wat man, goed, ek wens net ons kan n’ paar slotte kry”
n’ jeornalis van pretoria loop toevallig daar verby en hoor die gesprek.
die volgende dag is daar op die voorblad n’ berig wat se” Bulle in moeilikheid, dringend op soek na n’ paar slotte.
n’ Kapenaar, wat toevallig in pretoria is vir besigheid sien die opskrif, en se
“flokken onnosole joernalis, hulle wil al weer die hekke sluit om die gespuis uit te hou”
@ bos_otter:
Waar is die jare wat die Lions/Transvaal so baie springbokke gehad het?
Net vir my Bulls maatjies, amazing hoe min bokke julle produce!
Lyk my hulle bloed is after all nie blou nie.
:laugh:
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