Another Lion crosses the Jukskei
On a day of high drama, the Lions have learned that another of their talented young players has crossed the Jukskei river to join the Blue Bulls.
Earlier on Thursday, Golden Lions President Kevin de Klerk confirmed that they have not renewed the contracts of backline coach Carlos Spencer and conditioning coach Wayne Taylor.
And on the same day it was revealed that star loose forward Joshua Strauss had stepped down as captain, although he has not yet indicated if he would also be departing at the conclusion of the Currie Cup season.
But the final bolt on a day of shocks came with the news that South African Under-20 lock Paul Willemse would be making the trek north to Pretoria – where he will join up with Lions teammate Grant Hattingh – who, ironically, will start on the bench for the Blue Bulls when they take on the Golden Lions in a friendly at Wits University on Friday.
Willemse is the second SA under-20 player signed since the national junior team won the IRB Junior World Championships, and will join his flyhalf Handre Pollard in Pretoria next year after the latter signed to move to Pretoria from Western Province.
Willemse was a star for the struggling Lions in Super Rugby and his departure will leave the Men from Johannesburg severely depleted in the second row.
