Reports out of Jo’burg are that the Lions have secured the signatures of these two Springboks.Butch James will be a Lion as from the end of the European Rugby season. The World Cup winning Springboks signing will be announced at a media conference to be held at Lanseria Airport today. The Lions have huge depth at flyhalf with James, Pretorius, Jantjies and Burton Francis all on the Lions books.
In further reports it seems that World Cup winning Springbok prop BJ Botha will end his stint at Irish club Ulster and run out for the Lions.
Negotiations are set to be in the final stages.
Both players are said to be hoping to be included in the 2011 RWC squad.
Lions are like the Sharks, trying to buy a team.
The Butch James signing has now been confirmed.
At the Presser at Lanseria Airport, Butch James walked out on a Yellow MTN carpet, dressed in a Lions jersey.
It appears that Bath will release him to be available for the Lions early in May.
The BJ Botha signing is still not confirmed.
@ Loosehead:
Yeah, problem is the age and longevity that they’re signing.
Butch may be playing good Rugby in the snow ravaged, mud baths that are excuses for Rugby fields in the UK and Europe, but what will happen on the hard, fast dry highveld pitches where the Lions are due to play the majority (thanks to Super Rugby format) of their games this year.
I predict that his knees will pack in before the 2nd round of the Currie Cup.
As for BJ, well I was never a great fan of his, and for me he’s been in Bog Trotting land too long and will also battle to adapt to the faster game of the SH.
The Lions set a new Super Rugby record last year and I have a sneaky feeling they’re going for one this year as well.
The franchise with the most contracted players, the biggest payrole, and the highest number of players failing to make it through a season uninjured.
For goodness sake Messrs Reyneke and de Klerk, invest wisely and get some return.
You remind me of my daughter (she’s 8) who can’t keep a R10 note whole for longer than 24hrs.
Have money, will spend. On what doesn’t matter!
@ Scrumdown:
Scrumdown i share your sentiments.
I was really excited by the play of Jantjies under the guidance of Carlos Spencer. What this guy needs is total belief in him to build his confidence.And a coach like HM who believed in Derek Hougaart the same way that Buurman van Zyl believed in Naas.
All these old pros , Butch, Carlos and Andre will break the confidence of Jantjies , you heard it from me here first.
Sharks had a fetish with foreign flyhalves and the Lions with hospital case flyhalves.
@ Scrumdown:
I have a similar feeling regarding Lambie at the Sharks. They have bought Hoffman, J-LP and Bosman. Where will Lambie play? Not at fullback because Ludick is there.
hahaha, congrats lions!
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