Bulls help un-lock some value for Sharks
Wilhelm Steenkamp
The Blue Bulls Company has released lock Wilhelm Steenkamp, on loan, to the Sharks for the remainder of the Super 14 competition.
Steenkamp, who has 19 Super Rugby caps, will return to his Pretoria base after completion of the competition.
He will again be available for selection for the Blue Bulls once the Currie Cup season starts.
According to the BBC’s business and high performance manager, Ian Schwartz, a request from the Sharks to utilize the services of Steenkamp, was granted and Steenkamp will join the coastal side immediately.
“Wilhelm will get playing time at the Sharks, which will not only benefit the player, but South African rugby as a whole,” Schwartz said of Steenkamp, who last year also represented the Emerging Boks against the British and Irish Lions.
“The Sharks is in need of a top class lock and we have released Wilhelm due to our depth in that position. We have no doubt that he will add value to the Sharks in their campaign.”
The Sharks’ request to the Bulls came after a second row injury crisis developed in Durban.
Veteran Johann Muller is sidelined after taking a knock to the neck and Gerhard Mostert likely to be out for the season with a dislocated shoulder.
Another veteran, Springbok Albert van den Berg, will leave on a one-year contract for Japan later this month.
The Sharks depart on a gruelling five-match Australasian tour after their Round Two encounter with the Cheetahs on Friday and currently only have two fit specialist locks in their squad – former South African age-group captain Alistair Hargreaves and Emerging Springbok Steven Sykes.
Willem Alberts will cover lock and loose forward against the Cheetahs, but another injury setback could be disastrous for the Sharks.
[Info from Story on Rugby365]
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