Gold: Losing Potgieter was 'sad'

Cape Town - He may not have played a minute of rugby in a Sharks jersey, but Jacques Potgieter will still be missed at King's Park. 

That is the view of Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold, who was full of praise for the 30-year-old loose forward as he departed for the Bulls and Loftus. 

Potgieter joined the Sharks from the Waratahs at the start of the 2016 Super Rugby season, but an ankle injury ruled him out of the start of the campaign. 

With the Du Preez brothers - Daniel and Jean-Luc - flourishing this season alongside names like Philip van der Walt, Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel and Marcell Coetzee, the Sharks have been well stocked in the loose forwards even with their constant run-ins with injury.

It has resulted in Potgieter being let go, and he will immediately be available for the union he left three years ago when he made the move to Australia.

"Those situations are unfortunately what they are. It’s sad … poor Potty (Potgieter) was injured," Gold said from Durban this week.

"It was an injury that was as frustrating for him as it was for us. We loved having him in the time he was here … he’s a great individual and so positive.

"Unfortunately it just didn’t work out."

Gold added that the player had left the franchise on good terms.

"Certainly from our point of view there is absolutely no animosity whatsoever," said Gold.

"He’s welcome here any time and he’s a fantastic guy.

"For an guy who hasn’t played a minute for the Sharks this year, he was unbelievably positive to be around. The guys enjoyed him tremendously and we’re going o miss him."

The Sharks are next in action when they take on the Kings in Durban this weekend.