Lions announce more signings
by Brenden Nel 10 October 2012, 07:59
The Golden Lions have announced another batch of signings and contract extensions as they continue to look to keep the majority of their players from leaving the union.
After last week’s announcement that Franco van der Merwe would be taking up a loan agreement with the Sharks and the fates of Boks Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe and Jaco Taute still not finalised, there was some positive news again as two of the best up-and-coming Lions players committed their future to the province.
Andries Coetzee and Ruan Combrinck both signed contract extensions that will keep them at Coca-Cola Park for the next year or so, with Coetzee signing until 2014 while Combrinck will be there until the end of 2013.
Coetzee, who can play both flyhalf and fullback, and Combrinck (fullback/wing) are both part of the Lions’ move to keep a number of their up-and-coming players at the franchise while they are out of the Super Rugby competition.
The Lions also announced the signing of Griquas flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, who put pen to paper for 2013 and 2014, and Western Province prop Jacques Kotze for 2013. Kotze joined the Lions under-21 squad this year and will stay on while Boshoff will join them at the end of the current Currie Cup season.
The announcements come on the back of a bulk player announcement last week where senior Lions players like Derick Minnie and Anthony Volminck pledged their futures to the province.
The Lions also confirmed signing Willie Britz from the Griffons and Warwick Tecklenburg from the Bulls.
Other than the players they have waiting on loan agreements, the Lions did lose a number of players to other provinces and clubs, including Bok Pat Cilliers (Western Province), Michael Rhodes (WP), Caylib Oosthuizen (Free State), Jacobie Adriaanse (Scarletts), Paul Willemse (Bulls), Ruan Botha (WP), Ettienne Oosthuizen (Brumbies) and former captain Josh Strauss (Glasgow).
