Some news titbits from all over, in preparation for the 2015 Super Rugby season.
- Willie Brits, the popular lion-looking Xerox Lion, has made his move back to the Toyota Cheetahs for 2015.
- Ben Afeaki, Chiefs prop, who has ongoing concussion problems will have to decide his future and consider possible retirement.
- The Force will celebrate its 10th Super Rugby season by returning one of the club’s favourite sons, Tai McIsaac, to its coaching staff for the next three years.
- South African-born lock Marco Kotze has become the 11th Queensland-based National Rugby Championship player to be contracted by the Reds.
Willie Britz
Willie Britz re-joins Cheetahs:
Cheetahs loose forward Willie Britz is enjoying a new lease of life back in Bloemfontein.
After the 2014 season ended in October, Britz completed his move back to the Cheetahs, where he started his professional rugby career as a junior.
He represented Free State at Under-19 and Under-21 levels between 2006 and 2009. He also represented Shimlas in the Varsity Cup, and the Griffons at senior provincial level.
However, a lack of starting opportunities saw him make a move to the Golden Lions, where he has regularly played in Super Rugby and Currie Cup between 2012 and 2014.
After helping the Johannesburg-based team to their most successful Super Rugby campaign and the Currie Cup final, he’s now focused on helping the Cheetahs rebuild for next season.
“It’s been great being back in Bloem. After all, this is where my professional career started and I studied at the University of Free State,” Britz said.
“Nothing much has changed over here. There are a couple of new buildings and few old buildings have gone, but everything else is still the same.
“This has helped me to settle in quite nicely. During my free time, I’ve had the opportunity to catch up with some old friends. So life is very good right now.”
Britz added that he’s been impressed with the talent in the squad.
“There is a serious amount of exciting talent in this Cheetahs squad. Especially among the young players who are coming through the ranks,” said Britz. “The team has lost a few experienced players, but there is a good group of leaders, especially with guys like Joe Pietersen and JW Jonker coming in.
“We’re busy with off-season training right now, and we’re focused on strengthening and conditioning. We hope to be ready and sharp going into the 2015 season.”
Ben Afeaki
Ben Afeaki suffering ongoing concussion problems:
Chiefs prop Ben Afeaki’s ongoing concussion problems could lead to him retiring from the game as early as six weeks into the upcoming Super Rugby season.
Afeaki has been troubled by symptoms such as headaches, nausea and moodiness ever since he clashed heads with team-mate Brodie Retallick during the Chiefs’ 2014 season opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch in February.
Both players were concussed but while Retallick went on to win the IRB’s International Player of the Year award recently, Afeaki has not returned to action again.
His inactivity has led to him dropping down to the Chiefs’ wider training group but Afeaki, who played one Test for the All Blacks in 2013, is desperate to play again and re-establish himself as one of New Zealand’s premier front rowers.
“But if it doesn’t come right before that six weeks into the season and I’m still getting symptoms then and I’m still not training at all then it will be hard to see me being able to get fit and play again that Super Rugby season,” Afeaki told the Waikato Times.
“If it’s going to push me towards the end of it and looking towards my health it might not be a smart decision.
“I guess that’s when I’ll sit down with a specialist and decide whether or not to go through with it or whether to live a healthy life with my family and friends.”
Although it appearsthat he has come to terms with the possibility of ending his career, Afeaki said that he would feel more comfortable if he knew exactly where he stood.
“As far as I’m concerned at the moment I definitely want to play again and if the time comes and I’m not ready then I’ll be excited about setting goals outside of footy and I guess just living a life like all my mates live with travel and study and a bit more freedom,” he added
Although his concussion symptoms were lessening Afeaki admitted that sometimes he still suffered from nausea and a fogginess when he concentrated.
“They’re definitely less intense, they’re not as full-on and I can still operate,” he explained,
But he is still only participate in very basic physical training – cardio and light weights – to keep some sort of fitness base until he is symptom-free and cleared by a specialist to resume contact training.
Tai McIsaac
Tai McIsaac joins Force coaching staff:
The Force will celebrate its 10th Super Rugby season by returning one of the club’s favourite sons, Tai McIsaac, to its coaching staff for the next three years.
The former Wallaby rake, who played 52 consecutive matches for the Force between 2006 and 2009, will return to take up a key coaching role, along with Dwayne Nestor, in the club’s pioneering full-time academy programme, the Future Force, while consulting to the senior side as a lineout consultant.
The return of McIsaac is a reflection on the club’s focus on further growth in 2015, while his ability to provide specialist coaching to the senior squad, provide elite level coaching to the state’s aspiring rugby players and contribute to the talent identification outside of Western Australia will play a key role within the RugbyWA/Force Super Rugby programme.
McIsaac, who was the first player to reach 50 caps for the Force, joins a coaching staff that features Michael Foley (Head Coach), Dave Wessels (Senior Assistant Coach), Kevin Foote (Backs/Attack Coach) and Nestor (Kicking & Skills Coach).
The 39-year-old, who has most recently coached at Japanese clubs, Honda Heat and Toyota Industry Shuttles, says he is keen to again be a part of the club he is so passionate about.
“This is a very exciting time to be returning to the Force and I’m honoured to have been provided with this opportunity leading into the club’s 10th season,” he said.
“I had a fantastic time in Japan and I learnt a lot, but this is a particularly exciting time to come back and be involved with the club. Having followed the Force since I’ve been away, this team’s performances were characterised by a determination to play for one another, which is such a cornerstone for any successful side.
“Having spoken to a number of people around the club, it’s inspiring to see the high standards this current group expects of themselves, and that was clearly evident in their performances this year.
“I’ve got a great deal of respect for what Foles, Dave, Kevin and Dwayne have achieved at the club, and to be honest, I cannot wait to be involved with the Force again. My wife Penny and I absolutely loved our time in Perth before, and we’re very excited to be returning with our young family again.”
McIsaac says he’s very keen to be involved with developing the Force’s stars of tomorrow through the Future Force programme.
“It’s very exciting to be a part of the first academy of its kind in Australia,” he said.
“Mickey and Dwayne have put a lot of work into establishing this very professional programme and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to bring through the next generation of Force players.
“It’s terrific for the club to be thinking outside the square to bolster the playing ranks in WA, and particularly pleasing to see an emphasis placed on producing quality people, as well as players through this programme.”
Force Head Coach, Michael Foley says McIsaac is a key addition to the coaching staff.
“It’s great to have Tai back at the club,” he said.
“Having coached and known Tai over a number years, he’s an outstanding team man. He’s very humble and hard-working, he’s passionate about the Force and earning respect means a great deal to him.
“Getting quality ball from set piece provides an integral platform from which to play, and having Tai focusing on our lineout will help us develop that area of our game further.”
Marco Kotze
Marco Kotze joins the Reds:
South African-born lock Marco Kotze has become the 11th Queensland-based National Rugby Championship player to be contracted by the Reds.
Kotze joins the Reds as a member of the recently formed Elite Development Squad, after featuring heavily in Brisbane City’s victorious NRC campaign.
Originally from Johannesburg, Kotze moved to Australia in 2013 following an invitation from then-Brumbies coach Jake White to train in a professional team environment in Canberra. A shoulder injury limited his opportunities that year and he made the decision to move north to Brisbane to play Queensland Premier Grade Rugby with local club GPS.
Kotze was a strong foundation in the Brisbane City forward pack, with brutal physically and a high work rate features of his game.
Reds head coach Richard Graham said the 28-year-old was a good addition to the Reds training group.
“I’ve seen a bit of Marco throughout the NRC and was aware of the impact he was having on the group,” Graham said.
“He clearly has a lot of respect within the playing group as a result of his contributions in the NRC. He’s not afraid of hard work and was balancing working as a landscaper on the Gold Coast and training with Brisbane City, so this a fantastic opportunity for him and just reward for his efforts.
“He works incredibly hard both on and off the field and his enthusiasm around the group is infectious.”
The Reds Elite Development squad is an initiative by Queensland Rugby designed to ensure the Reds retain the best talent the state has to offer.
Other players to sign to the Reds Elite Development Squad include Brisbane City’s starting props in the NRC grand final, Sef Faagase and Pettowa Paraka, Australian Under 20s flyhalf Jake McIntyre and Queensland Country centre Sam Johnson, who made his Super Rugby debut earlier this year.