Hougie Commits to Worcester permanently.

Hougaard extends Worcester stay

 

London - South Africa scrumhalf Francois Hougaard has signed a permanent contract with Worcester, the English Premiership side announced Tuesday.

The 27-year-old arrived at Sixways on a short-term deal in February but has now committed his future to the Midlands club.

Hougaard, who has won 35 Springbok caps, is set to join up with South Africa's Sevens side for the Rio Obut will return to Worcester 

ahead of next season.

"Francois has come in and had a huge influence on 

the side in such a short space of time," Worcester rugby 

director Dean Ryan said in a club statement.

A two-time Super Rugby title-winner with the Bulls, 

Hougaard scored a try on his

 Worcester debut in 

last month's win over Sale and Ryan

 added: "

You can see the difference he has made to the 

squad and that comes from a wealth of experience

 from his time in Super Rugby and playing 

internationally.

"We're delighted he's decided to be a part of our 

journey and we hope he can be a catalyst for us

 moving forward."

Worcester are tenth in the 12-team Premiership 

but are 13 points clear of bottom-of-the-table

 London Irish

, who currently occupy the lone relegation place.

Meanwhile Hougaard said he was looking forward to

 helping Worcester climb up the table: 

"I haven't been here long but I've become really 

fond of Worcester.

"There are a great bunch of players here and 

they've made the transition very smooth since

 coming from South Africa Sevens.

"Now my aim is to help drive Warriors up the 

Aviva Premiership table and to achieve our 

long-term goal of becoming a top European side."

Looks like his stay in long term. 
His last comments were around he wanted
 to prove he could play scrumhalf in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Had his best games as an impact scrumhalf for FDP when the game opened up. 
A great scrumhalf in space in- but a times a calamity at the base of the ruck in the Northern Hemishpere

Great player hindered by the likes of Meyer and Ludeke.....started playing great attacking rugby for the Bulls under Marais in the CC last year
The notion that he struggles in NH conditions is just rubbish as he is proving week after week for Worcester.....he has been awesome for them

Best games were on the wing.  

Bullshit.....Hougaard was never a great wing......best attacking 9 we have had since Joost when allowed to play to his strengths instead of being suppressed into playing a boring structured game under Ludeke and Meyer.
His strength is asking questions of defences and has always been a great defender.
Completely wasted on the wing, much like Lambie and Goosen being wasted at 15, Frans Steyn being wasted at 10, Serfontein and Jean being wasted at 13 etc.
Hougaard, Faf and Reinach are by far our best 9's

 He had about four opportunities to grab hold of the Bok 9 jersey and failed the basics. Just another pipe dream Dave. With you it's always the coaches...HM didn't make him drop the ball twice right on the Irish goal line....or take a penalty as a tap against Wales and then kick the ball directly into touch. Hogwash man, get a grip.

Cream always rises to the top......Hougaard who started off as cream, just went .....sour.

Moz your biggest flaw is that you define players by the odd negative......one would swear players were perfect. Look no further than Lood in the WC......he was simply fantastic and all we hear from you is a missed tackle and some warped take on line-out calls.
Does Hougaard normally drop balls? No, was it pissing with rain, yes!
The absolute bullshit written about Hougaard playing 9 on that NH tour is laughable, especially considering he was sensational a few weeks earlier in the RC.
Damn right I blame useless Meyer for not showing faith in Hougaard after his display against Oz and NZ, what of JJ's display against NZ......the same coach who failed to reward the likes of Senatla, Kolbe, Combrink, Vorster, Frans Venter, Jantjies, Faf, Kitshoff, Willemse, Jacques du Plessis and Jaco Kriel, who woke up to the likes of Jessie Kriel, de Allende, Lood, Nyakane and Malherbe when it was too late, who showed little faith in the likes of Coetzee, Carr, Kolisi, Arno Botha, Marcel, Coenie, Koch, Hougaard, Reinach, Goosen and Serf after playing him out of position at 13 for a season.
But more than anything I blame this coach for showing blind faith in the likes of Kirchner, Mvovo, Hendricks, Fourie, Jean, Olivier, Morne, du Preez, Pienaar, Steenkamp, Heinke v/d Merwe, CJ, Brits, Matfield, Flip, Bakkies, Louw, Alberts and Smith......all at the expense of the class youngsters we have at our disposal. 
There is a reason Meyer is no longer the Bok coach.....out of his depth.....could not choose a side and gave them poor direction.

 Hougie was fine at 9, until Ludicrous and the BB Braintrust tried to mold him into FdP- II....and then they played him on the wing...and then he and Oscar had a tiff about Reeva...just too much off the play issues. A players career stuffed up. I hope he gets his head sorted abroad.

Agreed Draad.......he was reduced to passing and kicking aimless box kicks......gone was the freedom to snipe......completely wasted on the wing.
He found his spark again under Marais at the Bulls in the CC last season and is on fire for Worcester at the moment, dispelling the ignorant notion that he is poor in NH conditions

 Glad to hear it. Telling that so many players have been leaving the Bulls in the last couple of years. Something not lekke.?

They sign so many youngsters each year and then cant give them game time.....my guess is that under Ludeke they felt suppressed in how they played and went in search of greener pastures.
Hopefully under Marais things will change.....he is certainly not one who advocates the conservative approach.
Big losses are Hougaard, Paul Willemse and Jacques du Plessis......Labs will be another big loss
Good recent acquisitions are Strauss and Nyakane