In the same week that the Cheetahs lost the highly promising lock, Carl Wegner, they announced the acquisition of another young lock. Lodewyk (Lood) de Jager was considered unlucky, by many to miss out on selection for last years IRB Junior World Championships. He was only cut from the group during the final trials. Apparently the Bulls were also interested in his services.
The 205 cm giant weighs 120 kilograms, was born in Alberton, and has played Varsity Cup for the NWU Pukke, and Currie Cup 1st Division rugby for the Platinum Leopards. Such is the dearth of locks in the franchise, that the young man may well be playing Super Rugby before Premier Division Currie Cup.
Looks like a good signing for Cheetahs.
How old is de Jager? Has he been signed by Free State or Griquas, interesting to read there was some interest by the Bulls too, but he would probably get more game time from early on at Cheetahs with so many locks gone compared to the stock of locks now at the Bulls.
Wonder how long it will take Loosehead to post “POACHERS” to this one
A few more years of growth and he may catch up or surpass Richie Gray who is now 23 and is 2.07m tall and weighs 126kg, interesting even with all that weight because Richie is so tall he looks more of an athletic no 5 type lock than an enforcer no 4, yet he plays with the energy and skills of a loose forward.
@ Puma
I have never seen the young man play, but he is a big fella. Let’s hope he is as good as they reckon. Andries Ferreira has made good strides as a 4 lock, and hopefully this lad can step up.
Hiya Bully,
Cheetahs don’t poach! The players willingly come to the development factory of SA rugby
We then nurture them, and other unions/clubs POACH them.
@ Bullscot,
The laddy was born December 1992, so he will be 20 soon. Lol, if he grows a tad, he might soon overtake Eztebeth, the question is, does he have the mongrel?
5 @ Cheetah4eva:
I have never seen him play either, just looking at his height and weight there. Everything you need for a lock. Also if he was considered unlucky not to have made the IRB Junior World Championship, then it tells me he can play. So it seems to me it is a good signing for Cheetahs.
Bullscot wrote:
What are you accusing me of?
He seems to be a good signing.
9 @ Loosehead:
Refer comment no 2 on the article about Izak van der Westhuizen’s move away from Free State
6 @ Cheetah4eva:
Hi Cheetah oh yes I forgot they not poached, all lured by the bright lights of the cosmopolitan mecca that is Bloemfontein and so when they leave they do so against their will to the highest bidder
Thanks for the info on de Jager hopefully he ends up being a good signing for you, to go straight from Currie Cup ‘2nd division’ straight to Super rugby will be a big step up he will be really good if he does this successfully straight away.
Getting excited about signing a young Leopards lock, just shows how bloody desperate the Cheetahs AND their fans have become for decent locks!
Hell, every half decent lock seems to want to move away from Vrystaat at all costs… just look at how many has signed to go overseas and everywhere else.
Come on fellas, surely you guys can do better than getting excited about this oke, afterall there is a reason he did not have a junior contract with one of the BIG Unions!
@ GBS,
Funny you mention that. Heard the Bulls were chasing his signature too. Besides we aren’t exited yet, just interested. Man you are one serious grouch!
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