Lions finally confirm Bok's arrival
TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions have confirmed that Springbok Jannie du Plessis has joined the franchise for the upcoming Super Rugby season.
Du Plessis, who played 70 Tests for the Springboks between 2007 and 2015, made a mid-season exit from Top14 side Montpellier.
The 37-year-old’s time at the French club was to come to an end in June 2019, but he extended his contract as a medical joker to cover the World Cup window for the side.
According to the Lions official website, the 37-year-old Du Plessis is ‘ecstatic to see out his long and illustrious career at the Lions,’
Aside from Du Plessis’ transfer, Western Province prop Carlu Sadie also returns to the Lions.
Sadie was loaned to the Lions during the 2019 Super Rugby, before heading back to Western Province for the Currie Cup. The 22-year-old recently played for French club Stade Français as a medical joker on a short-term deal for the duration of the World Cup.
The Lions’ scrumming coaches for the next season will be former Springboks prop Julian Redelinghuys, who was forced to retire three years ago due to a neck injury, and fellow former Springbok Wessel Roux.
The Lions open their 2020 Super Rugby campaign against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on February 1.
Lions props: Jannie du Plessis, Carlu Sadie, Keagan Glade, Johannes Jonker, Leo Kruger, Nathan McBeth, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Sti Sithole, Dylan Smith, Frans van Wyk.
Kitch Christie said: ‘Give me a strong tighthead and I’ll build you a strong team’. That is never truer than now with retired Springbok tighthead prop @julianred3 now heading up the Lions front-row factory in conjunction with another former Springbok Wessel Roux.#LionsPride pic.twitter.com/7jlovxhQHh
— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) November 25, 2019
