Former Bulls flank CJ Stander has committed to a long-term goal of playing Test rugby for Ireland by signing a two-year contract extension with Munster that will see them stay with the province until June 2016.
Stander joined Munster in October 2012 from Super Rugby side the Bulls and made his debut as a substitute against Scarlets that November at Musgrave Park.
rugby365
A week later, the powerful back row unit scored two tries on his first league start against Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park.
The 23-year-old South African made his European Cup debut against Edinburgh in October 2013 in Murrayfield, and to date he has played 22 times for Munster, scoring six tries.
Duncan Casey also agreed a two-year contract extension. The Cork man is a product of the Munster Academy and is currently contracted as a development hooker.
The 23-year-old will move to a full senior contract at the end of this season on the back of impressive breakthrough performances this year.
He made his debut off the bench against Perpignan in the European Cup at Thomond Park in December and then made his first start against Scarlets in the league at Musgrave Park two weeks later. He has made three further appearances off the bench so far this season.
Commenting on the confirmed signings, head coach Rob Penney said, “We’ve had a really positive start to 2014 with players committing their future to Munster and I believe this spurs the younger lads on, knowing what is ahead of them and who will be leading the way.
“We are extremely pleased with CJ’s progress, it’s great that he has recommitted to Munster and that he believes this is the best place for his development.
“Similarly for Duncan, it bodes well for the future, and his progression is another example of the hard work that is being carried out at grassroots level.”
A sad loss (Again)
What can one say – except for “Good luck young man.”
Secretly though, I think they all miss the good weather, biltong and a decent braai.
1 @ grumpy:
2 @ Scrumdown:
What a pity, CJ Stander could have been in the reconing for the Springboks by now too.
Good luck young man!
@ grootblousmile:
I think (yes I can occasionally) that there is perhaps more to some of the younger players deciding to ply their trade over the pond than just National honours and more moola.
Let’s be brutally honest, if we (you and I) were in our 20’s with a young family living in SA, and the chance presented itself to allow our wives and young kids to grow up in a “more normalised” society than you and I currently find ourselves in, would we not give it VERY serious consideration?
We’d have to be somewhat silly to think that sunshine, biltong and braaivleis are good substitutes for a well governed, safe and secure, non-racial society that educates our offspring in such a manner that we don’t spend 75% of our disposable income on private education, private secutity and private healthcare.
These young sportsmen may well be professional Rugby players, but they won’t be for the rest of their lives, and the amount of time that they are expected to be away from home must surely be concerning for thier young families when plying their trade in SA.
Or am I just a rambling old(er) cynic?
4 @ Scrumdown:
Yes, I think it is easier to move when you are young and basically starting out in life.
But then again, is South Africa really that bad? What I mean is, yes we maybe have to look over our shoulders once or twice more than we would have had to do overseas and yes we have governance issues and the Rand is taking yet another pounding against the big world currencies, but then again I am reminded of the wonderful weekend I just had, which would not have been possible elsewhere in the world.
I am a man of Africa… I like the fact that I have garden services do my garden, somebody to wash my Blik Met Wiele, someone to make the beds, wash the dishes and clean up the house and do the washing and ironing. I like the weather, the rugby, Afrikaans, biltong, braaivleis…
I like the fact that I can still be my own man and an entrepeneur, in what for me is still a capitalist environment.
I like the fact that I am not a foreigner in a country, trying to fit in.
I do not like the fact than my Currency almost makes it prohibitively expensive to travel and that anything which comes from abroad is so expensive.
I do not condemn young South Africans who want to make a decent amount of money overseas… and I appreciate why they do it.
5 @ grootblousmile:
Agree with all of your points and more, but was just looking at it from a young professional’s perspective.
Just about everyone I know has been a victim of, or directly knows someone who has been a victim of violent crime.
In almost 20 years …………. ah shit, I mustn’t make this a political / social rant.
I can’t blame the youngster for going and I hope he makes a fist of it. If he decides to come back, I hope SA Rugby in general accepts his decision.
Who am I to judge anyone in this world? (Except the prat that steals my tax money!)
I judge this only from a rugby supporter’s point of view as this is the aim of our forum
Very sad loss for SA rugby, whatever his reasons are
@ Gena_ZA:
I agree absolutely 100% re the Rugby forum.
However, when other non Rugby issues force issues such as these onto our sport, aren’t we almost obligated to discuss them in an adult and responsible manner and where we can use our knowledge and experience to suggest ways to help prevent it from happening?
Off course you/we can = freedom of speech
Bottom line to me is if I had to guess why the move abroad:
– Money
– Safety
– Future of family/kids
– Perceived perception of a player
What a good post.
@ Scrumdown:
10 @ grumpy:
Which one… he rambles on a bit, you know… hahaha
Good post GBS.But “Where will the children play”I too cannot blame players for
going to what they obviously feel are greener pastures.AndI am a patriotic
South African,whose love for my homeland extends from Eugene Marais to Koos Kombuis. (and Johnny Clegg of course)Regards
If I was still in my twenties I would have done the chickenrun. Now, I have a bond etc and am not quite as brave as what I was.
If I had kids, it would be a no brainer.
I am fortunate to be a EU Citizen, so could chickenrun if I wanted to.
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