On the identical day that the Lions introduced they may now not have former Springbok lock Albert van den Berg of their teaching workforce, they confirmed that six gamers, amongst them some of South Africa’s rising stars, have dedicated their rapid futures to the workforce.
Earlier on Wednesday the Lions stated in a press release that Van den Berg, who has been half of the senior teaching workforce since 2021 taking care of the forwards and lineouts, had opted to not renew his contract.
It is believed the former Springbok lock is contemplating a transfer overseas.
Young gamers
There has additionally been speak in current months of there being unhappiness in the Lions camp, and between Van den Berg and workforce analyst Chris Venter, which can have led to the coach deciding to transfer on.
The excellent news for the Lions although, and the followers, is that a number of promising younger stars have prolonged their contracts with the Joburg-based union.
The Lions didn’t elaborate for a way lengthy the gamers have determined to keep signed to the union.
Eighthman Francke Horn (23) and centre Henco van Wyk (21), two of South African rugby’s brightest prospects, are two of the gamers who’re staying put in Joburg.
Experienced prop JP Smith (33) and rising star Asenathi Ntlabakanye (24), hooker PJ Botha (25) and lock Reinhard Nothnagel (25) have additionally re-signed with the Lions.
Fourie and Van Rooyen
In February this yr, the Lions introduced they’d prolonged defence coach and former Bok centre Jaque Fourie’s contract by an additional two years, whereas at the identical time they stated negotiations with head coach Ivan van Rooyen have been on-going.
“It’s hard to single out any one coach or person. We have confidence in him (Van Rooyen) and we have invested in him as a young coach,” stated Lions CEO Rudolph Straeuli at the time.
“Everyone has KPIs and we are in the process of achieving those. Ivan still has a year on his contract. We are confident that in the following games that we will reach the targets set out for him.”
The Lions completed ninth in the United Rugby Championship, simply lacking out on the playoffs, whereas they’re at the moment concerned in the Currie Cup, with the race to end in the prime 4 nicely underway.
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