Where will queens get their players?

Ex Keo

Lions president Kevin de Klerk has denied reports that Josh Strauss will be loaned out to the Crusaders for the 2013 Super Rugby campaign.

Media and social networks have reported that seven-time champions the Crusaders have snapped up the loose forward on loan from the Lions, who will be replaced by the Southern Kings in Super Rugby next year. The news comes as a surprise, considering the Christchurch franchise already has the likes of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, George Whitelock and Luke Whitelock in their loose forward department.

This would be a big blow for the Lions, who have already lost prop Jacobie Adriaanse (Scarlets, Wales), lock Ruan Botha (WP), lock Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls) and Caylib Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs) in recent weeks. Word is that flyhalf Butch James and hooker Bandise Maku could also make their exits after the Currie Cup.

However, the Lions’ camp has denied the reports about Strauss’s proposed loan. Interim coach Johan Ackermann told keo.co.za that he knew nothing about the deal, while De Klerk also told this site that it wouldn’t be allowed.

De Klerk stressed that only flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be allowed to be loaned out next season as he is the only contracted player who has a Super Rugby clause in his deal.

The Lions currently have 26 players committed until October 2013, with Strauss being one of them.

Lions players contracted until October 2013 – JC Janse van Rensburg, CJ van der Linde, Callie Visagie, Pat Cilliers, Hendrik Roodt, Franco van der Merwe, Derick Minnie, Jaco Kriel, Michael Rhodes, Stephan Greeff, Josh Strauss, Warren Whiteley, Michael Bondesio, Ross Cronje, Whestley Moolman, Elton Jantjies (with contract clause), Guy Cronje, Jaco Taute, Alwyn Hollenbach, Lionel Mapoe, Dylan des Fountain, Bradley Moolman, Deon van Rensburg, Deon Helberg, Andries Coetzee, James Kamana

Slim pickings here for the Queens! They are getting Catrakillis from WP but who else are they getting.

As matters stand I cant see lthem getting walloped by less than 40 points and perhaps closer to 75 against top sides unless their squad improves dramatically on what we see currently. But where can they get players. Also how much cash have they got?

A take on this I found on keo by by a poster named David:

I wonder whether the Lions loan contracts are actually valid. Acording to the Newscorp/Sanzar agreement SARU has to field SAs top 150 players in the Super competition. Whilst this may be a rather subjective decision, there’s no doubt that a number of Lions players fall into that category. Franchises have the right to deny SARU the ability to draft players they deem essential, but as a non competing S15 franchise I doubt whether this is enforceable. The SANZAR contract applies to SARU and the players and not franchises, which fall under the discretion of each governing body

if some of the top lion players which to play in the spXV during 2013 and the lions deny them the opportunity, then the ill will that will cause between players and administration will be the end of the lions as we know it.
players like bandise maku, pat cilliers, j taute, strauss, minnie and others would be great assets to some spXV clubs and the lions should loan out those who wish to play spXV and can find a club. it would give the lions a chance try new talent in the vodcom cup, while theire stars are getinng the challeneg and possible inside info on other teams, most likely to be teh kings.

there are also 3 players in the pumas who are uncontracted, roncerp the loosehead, guinazu the hooker and carizza the lock, all three would be fantastic for the southern kings and coincides perfectly for the IRC season.
 

There was some talk of the Lions playing in some other comp but nothing has emmerged.

Cant see the Lions loaning any players to the queens if they can help it saSUE.

Go Queens! 

Beeno 10 I am not referring to the bulle here but suspect you are!

@beeno1,

in regards to that comment posted by david on keo. if that is true and SANZAR can force SARU to play their best 150 players, who determines who are the best 150 players??? im assuming it would be SARU if the lions dont want to play ball, but are forced too, that would be another massive kick to the lions balls, o_O how much more can they take before they just keel over and die, or act like a lion and rip someone to shreds, lol.

i think that story about joshua strauss is false. cursaders have so many quality lose forward slike u mentioned, that they also loan out other players cos they cant get any game time, like nasi manu who plays for the highlanders, but plays for canterbury in the ITM. then theres also star on the rise jordan tafua who was the No8 for the jr kiwis team and hes having a kller ITM season so far. thats why i dont beleive strauss was ever on the table. im a big fan of strauss, but i rate all those players plus those in the crusaders now better then him, mean beard though, best in rugby IMO.

 This is a joke. We are going to have club rugby players in the most demanding regional competition in the world. They need to buy players from everywhere and anywhere that can meet the required standard- and then still build a team. What about the original objective of the team to get more players of colour, or just black players only into the team. They have a massive challenge, and then it is possibale to be knocked out after one year by playing a relegation team. Although perhaps this was just a smokescreen for the Lions. The Lions comedy show is the only reason that the Kings do not look worse. 

 Well seeing that the ANC government and Cheeky Watson want to play rugby and have stated that they have many talented players in their union....why not go ahead and select all those comrades and let they play and show us their skills.

No need to bribe a few loosers from other unions.

Lets see Puke and his EP Queens play ..............

from what i heard the kings have tried to lure a huge amount of overseas based ex springboks to there team but in fact the kings will need to buy a team..almost english premier league style of practice but alot of there offers have not been taken.

time will tell but there current crop of players are not on super rugby standard. that we all know. the lions players are still under contract. the contracts are not watertight but is still contracts. we will see what develop

 For Those who have not heard.

Demetri Catrakillis has signed for them for 2013. So they do have a Flyhalf with a good foot and head on his shoulders.

he has some pedigree. i saw him at the murray mexted rugby academy a few years back and he was under the mentorship of andrew merthans. one can see a bit of andrew in his kicking style as well. if he is in a decent rugby team with pattern that suites him he can go along way.

its going to be hard for the southern knigs to sign big names, especially as they might not be here in 2014 thanks to that relegation play off they have been talking about.
i also think that future contracts between players and clubs will all have a spXV clause in the future, especially for the kings, lions and cheetahs.