Lions release players to Japan for Currie Cup

The Golden Lions have released four players to foreign clubs for the rest of the rugby season including the whole of the Currie Cup.

Elton Jantjies (NTT Shining Arcs), Lionel Mapoe (Kubota Spears) and Warwick Tecklenburg (Kamaishi) have all signed agreements in Japan until February 2016.

Meanwhile, Armand van der Merwe has signed a deal with Racing Metro which will see him play in France for the remainder of the 2015 season.

The players will return ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby tournament and will represent the Emirates Lions in next year’s competition. The players have all committed to Lions Rugby until the end of 2016.

Lions Rugby High Performance Manager Bart Schoeman believes the stint abroad will not only be beneficial for the select group of players involved but also for developing young talent within the Lions Rugby structures.

“Following on from last year’s successful placement abroad, Lions Rugby has opted to selectively release a group of players for the Currie Cup tournament again this season,” Schoeman shared.

“We believe that sending this group of players abroad for several months will not only benefit them as players but will also benefit the Union immensely, as we look to develop the young talent we have available here and give a new talent pool the opportunity to perform in the Currie Cup. This was a great success in 2014 and we are hoping to replicate that this season.