Rugby
Stormers in demand
2009-05-12 20:10
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Cape Town - Northampton Saints, the Guinness Premiership outfit, have snapped up Brian Mujati and Peter Grant is on the wanted list of a few foreign-based clubs.
The Stormers tighthead prop Mujati has accepted a two-year contract with Northampton and will be making his way to Franklin Gardens in November.
Mujati will very likely be playing for Western Province in the forthcoming Currie Cup season as his claims for inclusion in the Springbok squad over the next few months is not very strong.
The Zimbabwean-born Mujati has been plagued by injury this season and playing in a team that won precious few Super 14 matches did not do his cause any good.
He is highly rated by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers who is likely to include him in the Springbok training squad ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour.
Mujati, will, however he aware that John Smit, a retreaded tighthead prop nowadays, is also the Springbok captain and therefore will be the Boks' first choice. Also ahead of him in the Boks' pecking order is Jannie du Plessis, who is rated by Sharks coach John Plumtree as the best tighthead in South Africa.
Mujati's venture abroad will therefore very likely result in him swapping the Boks' green and gold for Saints' the green, black and gold jersey in the future. De Villiers has frowned on selecting players who ply their trade outside the country.
Northampton's Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder said on Tuesday that he was delighted with the club's latest acquisition. “Brian is one of the rising stars of South African rugby and I am delighted that he is coming to the Saints,” said Mallinder.
“Although he is still relatively young for a prop he has amassed a great deal of experience in the Super 14 and with the Springboks, and he can play on both sides of the scrum. "Having quality players increases the pressure on everyone to perform, which can only be good for the Saints squad as we look to improve further.”
The move to England will offer the Western Province and former Lions strongman fresh challenges.
“I’m excited about the prospect of playing in England,” said Mujati. “I played there with the Springboks last year and I’m sure I will like living and playing my rugby there, especially at a club like Northampton, which has done well this year."
The next player likely to go tho pastures new is flyhalf Peter Grant who has been used as a centre in recent months.
After last week's match at Newlands, Western Force coach John Mitchell confirmed that the Australian franchise were keen on Grant, who also now appears on the shopping lists of European clubs like Bath and Racing Metro.
Like Mujati, Grant's profile has also not been enhanced in the Stormers squad and the fact that he has not played flyhalf will count against him at national squad selection time.
Grant and his teammate Schalk Brits have been invited to play for the Barbarians against England (at Twickenham) and Australia (Sydney Football Stadium) on May 30 and June 6.
The other SA-born player in the Baa-baas squad is BJ Botha, the former Sharks prop who plays for Irish club Ulster.
Stormers centre Gcobani Bobo is another player who could be on his way to Europe since several clubs have declared an interest in acquiring his services.
The Stormers' first-choice hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has been cleared to play against the Cheetahs this weekend after being cited for a punch-up with Western Force winger Haig Sare at Newlands. Flanker Schalk Burger is out injured and centre Jean de Villiers as well as lock Andries Bekker are also battling with injuries.