Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Lions prop Jacobie Adriaanse will make a move to the Scarletts at the end of the current Currie Cup season to continue his career in Wales.
According to the supersport.com website, Adriaanse, who is a highly rated scrummager, has been the solid base of the Lions during this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby series, but is out of contract at the end of the season and chose not to renew with the Lions.
While it may be easy to speculate that the Super Rugby exit had something to do with it, Adriaanse had received the offer before last week’s decision and decided to join the Welsh club on a two year stint.
His move could well even see him qualify for Wales after a few seasons, as Adriaanse has not played representative rugby for South Africa. His highest honours was to be part of the Emerging Bok team that won the IRB Nations Cup in Romania a few years ago.
The move to the Scarletts is a financial boost for the prop, whose brother Lourens plays for Griquas. Adriaanse is the first Lion to sign a new contract since the decision to exclude the Lions from the 2013 competition.
Lions CEO Ruben Moggee confirmed the move when approached by Supersport.com, saying that Adriaanse’s contract comes to an end on October 31, and while the Union wanted to keep him, they recognised his desire to take up the offer.
“It is a good opportunity for Jacobie and the Lions are very sorry to see him go,” Moggee said, “But we do recognise the opportunity for him and are happy that we could provide him with the springboard for the offer.”
Moggee also reiterated that the majority of the Lions squad are signed for 2013, and that a mass exodus of players is not on the cards, as has been reported in the media.
Adriaanse’s agent Anthony Johnson of World Artists confirmed the move.
"It's a great opportunity for the player and Jacobie and his wife are very excited about the move. The Lions losing Super Rugby status certainly influenced the players decision but Jacobie was very keen on the move before the Lions knew their fate. There will definitely be a few more moving so watch this space.".
The Welsh club are likely to confirm the signing in the next day or so.
According to the supersport.com website, Adriaanse, who is a highly rated scrummager, has been the solid base of the Lions during this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby series, but is out of contract at the end of the season and chose not to renew with the Lions.
While it may be easy to speculate that the Super Rugby exit had something to do with it, Adriaanse had received the offer before last week’s decision and decided to join the Welsh club on a two year stint.
His move could well even see him qualify for Wales after a few seasons, as Adriaanse has not played representative rugby for South Africa. His highest honours was to be part of the Emerging Bok team that won the IRB Nations Cup in Romania a few years ago.
The move to the Scarletts is a financial boost for the prop, whose brother Lourens plays for Griquas. Adriaanse is the first Lion to sign a new contract since the decision to exclude the Lions from the 2013 competition.
Lions CEO Ruben Moggee confirmed the move when approached by Supersport.com, saying that Adriaanse’s contract comes to an end on October 31, and while the Union wanted to keep him, they recognised his desire to take up the offer.
“It is a good opportunity for Jacobie and the Lions are very sorry to see him go,” Moggee said, “But we do recognise the opportunity for him and are happy that we could provide him with the springboard for the offer.”
Moggee also reiterated that the majority of the Lions squad are signed for 2013, and that a mass exodus of players is not on the cards, as has been reported in the media.
Adriaanse’s agent Anthony Johnson of World Artists confirmed the move.
"It's a great opportunity for the player and Jacobie and his wife are very excited about the move. The Lions losing Super Rugby status certainly influenced the players decision but Jacobie was very keen on the move before the Lions knew their fate. There will definitely be a few more moving so watch this space.".
The Welsh club are likely to confirm the signing in the next day or so.
