Cape Town – The never-ending flow of praise continued for the Golden Lions and its players after winning the Currie Cup this past weekend.
The Lions secured their first major piece of silverware since 1999 when they defeated the Springbok-enriched Sharks at a packed Ellis Park.
Much, if not all, of their success has been attributed to their continuity brought on from the fact that only two of its squad members joined up with the national squad to carry out duty in New Zealand.
The latest person to sing the Lions’ praises is SARU president, Oregan Hoskins.
Hoskins was chuffed that the Currie Cup has found its way back to Johannesburg and that them winning the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world can only bode well for South African rugby as a whole.
“The Currie Cup final was reinforcement of the importance of domestic rugby. The Lions’ success is healthy for national rugby as it broadens the base of good players,” Hoskins said in Monday’s Cape Times.
Hoskins believes that many of the young squad which coach, John Mitchell assembled during last season’s competition will potentially have big roles to play for the Springboks in the future as the two-time world champions aim to write a new chapter in it’s illustrious history.
“As we build towards 2015 (Rugby World Cup in England), exciting new players like Elton (Jantjies) and Franco (van der Merwe) could be the Bok stars of the future. It is hope that the Lions take this momentum forward and build rugby in the region again.”
The Lions secured their first major piece of silverware since 1999 when they defeated the Springbok-enriched Sharks at a packed Ellis Park.
Much, if not all, of their success has been attributed to their continuity brought on from the fact that only two of its squad members joined up with the national squad to carry out duty in New Zealand.
The latest person to sing the Lions’ praises is SARU president, Oregan Hoskins.
Hoskins was chuffed that the Currie Cup has found its way back to Johannesburg and that them winning the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world can only bode well for South African rugby as a whole.
“The Currie Cup final was reinforcement of the importance of domestic rugby. The Lions’ success is healthy for national rugby as it broadens the base of good players,” Hoskins said in Monday’s Cape Times.
Hoskins believes that many of the young squad which coach, John Mitchell assembled during last season’s competition will potentially have big roles to play for the Springboks in the future as the two-time world champions aim to write a new chapter in it’s illustrious history.
“As we build towards 2015 (Rugby World Cup in England), exciting new players like Elton (Jantjies) and Franco (van der Merwe) could be the Bok stars of the future. It is hope that the Lions take this momentum forward and build rugby in the region again.”