The Sharks announced on Friday that Pieter-Steph du Toit has reaffirmed his commitment to the team by re-signing for a further two years.
The announcement brings to an end weeks of speculation about the 20-year-old’s future – with both the Bulls and Stormers having shown interest in his services.
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John Smit, the new Sharks CEO, was obviously delighted with the latest developments.
“Pieter-Steph has shown great promise and he has had a positive impact on the team, since joining the senior set-up,” the World Cup-winning former Springbok captain, Smit, said.
“We are thrilled that he has reaffirmed his commitment to The Sharks.”
The Sharks’ Commercial Manager Rudolf Straeuli also expressed his delight at having retained the young lock forward.
“We not only identified him, but he has also been developed through the Sharks Academy,” Straeuli said.
“He has a bright future ahead of him.”
Du Toit, a Springbok training squad members, said that as a 20-year-old he is “living my dream”.
“I am extremely privileged to be identified by the Sharks as a player who can play a role in the province going forward,” he said.
“I will continue to learn from the many experienced players in our team and I hope that I can make the contribution required and expected of me.
“I will work as hard as I can and always do my best for the Sharks.”
Retaining the services of Du Toit was vital for the Sharks, especially after lock Franco van der Merwe returned to the Lions in Johannesburg and Jandré Marais having signed with Bordeaux-Bègles in France.
Others leaving include utility back Meyer Bosman (to Stade Francais in France) and fullback Riaan Viljoen (Red Hurricanes in Japan).
Loose forward Ryan Kankowski and wing JP Pietersen are set for stints in Japan during the Currie Cup season, but will return for Super Rugby next year.
There has also been speculation over the future of brothers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis.
Recent reports suggested that Jannie du Plessis has re-signed, while brother Bismarck has agreed to stay in Durban if he can get a decent Springbok contract.
Sharks CEO John Smit has warned that Bismarck du Plessis could leave South Africa if SA Rugby don’t give him a long-term deal.
According to recent reports, the Springbok and Sharks hooker has received several lucrative overseas offers from France and has yet to conclude contractual negotiations with the Sharks.
SARU currently only offer one-year contracts to players, but are considering offering extended contracts to a core group of Springboks.
Short-term Springbok contracts have been blamed for the recent exodus of a spate of key players, including the likes of Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana (both France) and Andries Bekker (Japan), as players seek the financial security foreign clubs offer without the increasing risk of loss of income due to injury.
Smit said, “We have an agreement in place, but he wants to wait and see what SA Rugby has planned for him for his future before he commits to anything.”
“I’ll be lying if I say he has signed, but we have come to an agreement, an agreement we are both happy with.”
Oompie Puma, must have taken himself out to a lavish lunch on receiving this news… cause for massive Sharks jubilation and praise singing!
@ grootblousmile:
I posted about this on the only Shark thread here earlier.
Very damn pleased we got him for another 2 years. Pleased Bulls never got our star lock….
Gonna celebrate later for sure.
Look I think we will get Bissie to sign as well. It is known that Jannie has signed and where his brother is he will be as well. That is how the Dup Brothers go about things.
Just watch us next year if we don’t pick up as many injuries we done this year.
Also well done to Smitty. He seems to have some good negotiating brain going on there, that is for sure. As we all know the Bulls were gonna offer PSDT a huge amount. So Smitty getting PSDT to sign for another 2 years is rather cool….
Mmmmm, I was not wrong about the praise singing either…
2 @ Puma:
Hello Oompie Bottervingers!
2: “Just watch us next year if we don’t pick up as many injuries we done this year.”
Ons sal julle watch volgende jaar en die jaar daarna en daarna …. soos ons julle al watch die afgelope 17 jaar ….. 😉
4 @ ben-die-bul:
Hulle sal ons nou in die semi’s ook watch… sonder ‘n semi van hul eie, pun intended!
5: hehe, nou lekker gelag !
Hoop maar ons doen goed in die semi dat ons die vlag heeltemal tot bo kan huis.
6 @ ben-die-bul:
Ja, as ons die semi kan wen, dan dra ek sommer my Bloubul horing tot en met die finaal… en nie noodwendig op my hoof nie…
Wonder of Bulle nou ander slot gaan soek, het nou vir Flip, Paul, Hattingh en JDP.
Klomp jong laaitjies saam met oom Flip. Kort dalk nog ‘n ervare slot, of Matfield moet maar ‘n comeback maak !
Wat môre se game betref, dink ek die Reds gaan ten minste twee keer uitstaan in die …. wanneer hul opdraf en wanneer hulle afdraf.
Friday, July 19 2013
Leopards 10 – 17 Valke
Absa Under 21 Competition
Sharks 17 – 24 MTN Golden Lions U21
Absa Under 19 Competition
Sharks 13 – 21 MTN Golden Lions
9 @ ben-die-bul:
Hehehehe
10: ag nee, sien nou eers dit is ‘n klomp tannies wat gespeel het, nie die manne se game nie.
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