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Johannesburg - The Lions have snapped up another top young forward after signing former Blue Bulls and Boland No 8 Dries van Schalkwyk for the coming season.
Van Schalkwyk was one of a handful of players whose contracts were not renewed at Loftus Versfeld last season and he has crossed the Jukskei in search of more playing opportunities after failing to breakthrough at the Bulls.
While Van Schalkwyk had high hopes of becoming a regular for the Bulls, injury hampered his cause, and he fell behind young talents such as Gerrit-Jan van Velze and CJ Stander in the Currie Cup, and was seen as surplus to requirements.
The renewed vigour he has found at the Lions will make the burly No8 hope for some action in this year’s Super Rugby competition, but will find a lot of competition for places already with the Lions set to rely on their leadership core of Cobus Grobbelaar, Wikus van Heerden and Franco van der Merwe, who can all play in the loose trio.
Add the likes of impressive flanker Derrick Minnie and the competition is already hot for places at Ellis Park.
Meanwhile it seems while the Bulls have shied away from pre-season games, the Lions have heaped more on their own plate, and will play five games before the lengthy season begins.
Apart from the Neo Africa series where they will face the Stormers and Sharks in pre-season action, the Lions will also play a midweek game against the Pumas on February 3, and face the Kings on February 11 in Port Elizabeth.
On February 9, the Lions will now face Argentinean champions Tucuman in a friendly at the Johannesburg stadium as the visitors undergo a short tour of South Africa.
Lions coach John Mitchell is sure to use the games to give his entire squad a run, as places for the Southern Hemisphere competition are currently at a premium.
