Golden Lions sign springboks prop CJ Van der Linde on a two-year contract – Rugby news
Johannesburg based South African Rugby Union (SARU) side Golden Lions has acquired Springboks’ World Cup winning prop Christoffel Johannes Van der Linde (CJ Van der Linde). Officials at the club have confirmed the signing of a two-year deal with the former
Stormers player in a statement released on their website on Thursday, July 21.
CJ Van der Linde is currently on Springboks duty for their 2011 Tri Nations away leg matches. According to club officials, he will join the club during the first week of August.
Golden Lions head coach, John Mitchell, has expressed his excitement on securing the services of the World Cup-winning prop, Van der Linde. He said, “CJ comes with a wealth of experience and has tremendous value to add, I'm really looking forward to working
with a player of CJ's caliber and experience.”
The Welkom born Van der Linde started with professional rugby union career with the Free States Cheetahs in 2000. At the start of the 2004/05 season, he joined then South African Super Rugby franchise, the Cats. After a season, he joined the Central side
and remained there until 2008.
Van der Linde was part of the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup winning outfit. Later, repeated injury problems kept his participation in the game to the minimum. Eventually he joined the Stormers but missed most of the last season due to a groin injury.
Van der Linde has progressed his way up through the Springboks development structure. He has played for the Springboks Under-19 side in 1999 and later played at the Under-21 level. He made his Springbok debut in 2002, at the age of 22.
Injuries forced the Springboks head coach, Peter de Villiers, to name the half fit Van der Linde in his squad for the Tri Nations tournament. He is expected to play in the Springboks upcoming game against the Wallabies, on Saturday, July 23.
Mitchell also has hinted at a developmental role for Van der Linde. He said, “I've always believed in developing youngsters as part of the expansion process and exposing them to experienced mentors such as CJ."
Golden Lions Chief Executive Officer, Manie Reyneke has expressed his delight on securing the vastly experienced and hugely talented Van der Linde. Reyneke admitted that his club was in contact with Van der Linde for the past few weeks and he added that
both parties have smoothly addressed the hurdles in the negotiation.
Reyneke further added, “We are both honoured and humbled to have a player of his calibre and vast experience joining the Lions.”
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