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Cape Town - The Lions on Wednesday announced that loose forward Jaco Kriel will join Japanese outfit, the Kubota Spears, after the completion of his Super Rugby duties in 2016.
Kriel will return to the Lions in time for the Super Rugby 2017 season. It will be a two-year deal and he will be available for the Springboks during this time.
“We see this as an opportunity which is mutually beneficial to both the Golden Lions Rugby Union and our players as we therefore manage to secure their services for a longer period of time,” said Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the GLRU.
Kriel says winning the Currie Cup in 2015 was another feather in his cap and he therefore appreciates the opportunity to venture overseas during the Currie Cup season and experience another culture.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity of living and playing abroad and bringing back new ideas to my Lions team-mates, which has successfully been done by Elton (Jantjies), Lionel (Mapoe) and Warwick (Tecklenburg) in the past. I feel I can contribute immensely and I really look forward to the challenge. Kubota has established an exciting team of players and coaches for this season and I am excited to be part of this new chapter,” Kriel said.
