The Natal Sharks have won the battle for the services of fiery Springbok hooker Lukas van Biljon.
The former Northern Free State player has signed a two-year contract with the Sharks after coach Rudolf Straeuli travelled to Auckland last week to convince Van Biljon to stay in Durban. It was speculated last week that Van Biljon would move to Western Province in order to further his career.
His current mates in the Bok front row, Cobus Visagie and Robbie Kempson, are from Western Province and Springbok coach Harry Viljoen said it would be beneficial for South African rugby if the hooker and tighthead prop of the national team play together at provincial level.
Van Biljon also expressed worries about the fact that he has to compete with Springbok substitute hooker John Smit for the Natal Sharks and the Sharks Super 12 squad's hooking position. He felt that it would be more beneficial for his career to move to Western Province, whose first-choice hooker Charl Marais is moving to Ulster at the end of the Currie Cup season.
During the Super 12 Van Biljon had to play second fiddle to Smit, but upstaged him during the international season and is now rated as South Africa's top hooker. His performances drew attention from talent scouts from all over the world and he is a hugely popular player at the moment, with offers streaming in.
Van Biljon's was only contracted to the Natal Sharks until the end of October. However, Straeuli moved swiftly to retain one of the finds of the international rugby season for two more seasons.The Natal Sharks have won the battle for the services of fiery Springbok hooker Lukas van Biljon.
The former Northern Free State player has signed a two-year contract with the Sharks after coach Rudolf Straeuli travelled to Auckland last week to convince Van Biljon to stay in Durban. It was speculated last week that Van Biljon would move to Western Province in order to further his career.
His current mates in the Bok front row, Cobus Visagie and Robbie Kempson, are from Western Province and Springbok coach Harry Viljoen said it would be beneficial for South African rugby if the hooker and tighthead prop of the national team play together at provincial level.
Van Biljon also expressed worries about the fact that he has to compete with Springbok substitute hooker John Smit for the Natal Sharks and the Sharks Super 12 squad's hooking position. He felt that it would be more beneficial for his career to move to Western Province, whose first-choice hooker Charl Marais is moving to Ulster at the end of the Currie Cup season.
During the Super 12 Van Biljon had to play second fiddle to Smit, but upstaged him during the international season and is now rated as South Africa's top hooker. His performances drew attention from talent scouts from all over the world and he is a hugely popular player at the moment, with offers streaming in.
Van Biljon's was only contracted to the Natal Sharks until the end of October. However, Straeuli moved swiftly to retain one of the finds of the international rugby season for two more seasons.