Lambie sticks with Sharks
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The Sharks can count on the services of Pat Lambie, for at least the next three years, until the end of 2017, as he and a host of players have extended their contracts beyond the Rugby World Cup.
Youngsters like Thomas du Toit, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Wright, Sibusiso Sithole and Stephan Lewies have also signed contracts to remain in Durban for the next three years.
Du Toit and Esterhuizen were involved in the Baby Boks’ IRB Junior World Championship campaign where they ended as losing finalists (going down 21-20 to England after defeating New Zealand 32-25 in the semis), with du Toit already boasting Super Rugby experience, just a few months after finishing his school career.
Lambie, a hero of the 2010 Currie Cup campaign where he was named Player of the Month in July, Man of the Match in the Currie Cup Final which included two tries, and a special invitation to tour with the Springboks to the UK at the end of the year where he gained four Test caps and a further Bok appearance against the Barbarians.
At just 23 years of age, Lambie has enjoyed a sparking rugby career.
He made his Test debut a few weeks after turning 20 and was the youngest member of the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup squad in 2011 (still 20), the year he was honoured as SA Rugby Young Player of the Year.
He featured for the Sprinboks in their bonus point victory over the Wallabies on Saturday, scoring a try and his entry onto the field coincided with the best attacking period of the game, when the Boks scored three tries in nine minutes.
Dale Chadwick, Matt Stevens, Monde Hadebe, Wiehan Hay, JC Astle, Khaya Majola, Conrad Hoffman, Heimar Williams, Lionel Cronje, Paul Jordaan, Tyler Fisher and Tim Swiel will all remain with the Sharks at least until the end of 2016 while a host of Springboks, expected to be a part of the Rugby World Cup, will all feature in the team’s Super Rugby campaign next year.
Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismarck Du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marcell Coetzee, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Cobus Reinach, Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo are all contracted until the end of 2015, as is current captain Lubabalo Mtembu and Lourens Adriaanse, Kyle Cooper, Marco Wentzel , Etienne Oosthuizen, Johan Meyer, Fred Zeilinga, Odwa Ndungane and SP Marais, with the option to renew their contracts further.
“We haven’t started further contract negotiations with such players just yet,” CEO John Smit explains.
“Obviously a number of those individuals will be involved in the World Cup, but I’m hoping to begin talks early next year to discuss their playing future beyond 2015.
“We’re always looking to bolster our squad where necessary, but generally I think we have assembled a very strong squad.”
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