Toulouse still waiting for arrival of their newly signed Springboks duo – Rugby News
Stade Ernest-Wallon based French professional Rugby Union club, Stade Toulousian, commonly known as Toulouse, are still waiting for the arrival of their newly signed Springboks international
pair of Gurthro Steenkamp and Gary Botha. The duo is struggling with visa problema and injuries respectively, which has delayed their arrival in France at least by a weeks time.
Earlier, the players were expected to arrive in France during the running week, following the end of the Springboks 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. The pair was important part of the Springboks
front row forwards in the global competition. Springboks were the defending champions in the tournament, as the 2011 Tri Nations winner’s, Wallabies, ended their title defence hopes in the quarter-finals of the competition.
France's top spending rugby union club’s forward coach, Yannick Bru, has confirmed the delay in the arrival of the duo to Toulouse on Wednesday, October 19. Bru was speaking in a press conference
ahead of the Toulouse’s upcoming encounter against the Bordeaux-Begles
Bru has expressed his confidence that the Springboks international prop Steenkamp’s visa problems will be addressed quickly. He added that he anticipates his arrival at France at the end of
the week.
The 30-year-old Steenkamp made his international debut for Springboks against Scotland during November 2004. He so far has made 38 international appearances for Boks, which includes his seven
Rugby World Cup appearances. He was part of the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup (RWC) winning outfit.
Commenting on Botha, Bru confirmed that the Springboks international prop is still struggling with his ankle injury. Botha sustained an ankle injury in Blues Bulls last game of the 2011 ABSA
Currie Cup competition. Bulls managed to secure a bonus point victory over the Platinum Leopards, with final scorecard reading 92 – 21 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. However, the victory did not help Bulls to win a spot in the semi-final of the competition.
Pretoria born Botha made his international debut for South Africa against the touring Australian side at his home ground on July 30, 2005. He so far has played 12 international games for Springboks.
He was also part of the Springboks 2007 RWC squad, but played a single match in the whole tournament.
Apart from Springboks duo, Toulouse has made six more signing for their 2011/12 season campaign.
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