Prime Namibian beef for Sarries
Namibian World Cup star and Blue Bulls flank Jacques Burger will join English Premiership club Saracens in December, saying he does so while he is in the “prime” of his career.
The 26-year-old loose forward, with almost 30 Test caps to his credit, said that a lack of game time at the Bulls in Pretoria was one of the main motivating factors in his decision to take up the Sarries offer.
Speaking exclusively to rugby365.com, while sorting out some documentation ahead of his big move next month, Burger confirmed that he must still play in a crucial World Cup qualifier – when Namibia tackle Tunisia in Windhoek next week, November 28.
Namibia beat Tunisia 18-13 in Tunis last Saturday in the first leg of the Africa Cup Final, which rewards the winner with a ticket to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Burger, who also captained Namibia in their 12-9 victory over Portugal in Lisbon earlier this month, said he is looking forward to the challenge at Saracens and joining up with the ever-growing band of South Africans at the Watford-based club.
“They originally had me scheduled to join in June [next year], but there was an opening at loose forward, so they told me I must come now [in December],” Burger told rugby365.com.
Confirming that he left the Namibian training camp in Windhoek and flew back to Pretoria to sort out some documentation, he said that it is now the right time for him to move abroad.
“When I arrived at the Bulls I though I would get more game time,” he said, adding: “I felt I had a good season, but when the Springboks started coming back my game time was reduced drastically.
“You have a short shelve life [as a player], so you must make the best of it.
“I am now in my prime, at 26. I am now at a stage where I must play the best rugby of my life, so I want to get as much game time as possible.”
He said the success of Saracens – who much like the Bulls are at the top of their game at present – was another attraction.
“Saracens are a great club, they have won seven-from-seven in the [English Premiership] league.
“It will be great to get involved in that system. It will be a new experience and I am looking forward to it,” he said, adding that with a host of South Africans – 10 of those faced the Springboks in a tour match this week – he will not have a shortage of familiar faces.
One of those, Sarries vice-captain Wikus van Heerden and the man who skippered them against the Boks this week, played with Burger at the Bulls before he, moved north.
“Yes, that [the number of South Africans at the club] will make the transition easier – we’ll even be able to work a few Braais [barbecues] in there,” he quipped.
Burger has spent two seasons with the Bulls, having joined them from Griquas in 2007. He made his Super 14 debut this year.
As for next week’s encounter with Tunisia in Windhoek, a game that could see Namibia qualify for the 2011 World Cup, Burger is confident they can record a home win – taking a five-point advantage into the second leg of the qualifier after their 18-13 win in Tunis.
“We do have a very good team,” he said of the Namibian side, adding: “We have the ammo to kill them off.”
* For Jacques Burger’s bio, CLICK HERE!
By Jan de Koning
