The MLR franchise hoovering up South African schoolboy talent
Major League Rugby’s Houston SaberCats are increasingly turning to South African talent to fill their roster – and it’s all thanks to their heavy-hitting director of rugby.
Springbok coaching royalty Heyneke Meyer was unveiled as the franchise’s new DoR last year and it’s fair to say there’s more than a little hint of a South African lilt to the side. Placed fifth in the MLR, Meyer’s is a team that has come to rely heavily on recruits from the 54-year-old’s native lands.
A quick glance over their squad list would make most Gallagher Premiership DoRs blush, such is the reliance on the Rainbow Nation. There’s more ‘vans’ than a DHL depot.
Familiar faces like Willie Britz rub shoulders alongside players like Dillon Smit, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Gerrie Labuschagne, Wynand Grassmann, Marcell Muller, Louritz Van Der Schyff, Frikkie De Beer and Dean Muir.
Maybe most interesting is the development of Kian Meadon, Gideon van Wyk and David Coetzer, who are all in their early 20s and were highly rated products of the SA schools system. They’re a calibre of player that one would normally expect to pick up a contract with a South African franchise and stay in the domestic system, or potentially become project players in Europe.
Instead, they’re heading to rugby’s new frontier.
The SaberCats signing of Springboks U20s star 20-year-old Meadon, who went on a brief loan to Rugby ATL in March, is intriguing.
Meadon began his provincial age-grade rugby career with Western Province and played for the Sharks in the 2021 national U20 Cup. A product of the famed Paarl Boys High School program, he rose to prominence with South Africa Schools team in 2019 before playing for Baby Boks in 2021.
Around the same time Meyer also signed fellow flyhalf David Coetzer, who has a similar impressive junior rugby resume to Meadon.
Coetzer had progressed through the Blue Bulls’ age-group program. In 2020, he led the Pretorians U21 team to a national title. He won the famous Varsity Cup last year with the University of Pretoria Tuks, where he played alongside another SaberCats recruit, Jaco Bezuidenhout.
No.8 Van Wyk, a product of Menlopark High School and latterly Paarl Boys High school also catches the eye as a young South African talent that one might have expected to have stayed within the SA system.
He repped South Africa at U18s level and the University of Free State, before winning caps for the Cheetahs. At 6’3 and 103kg, the native of Lichtenberg may have been perceived as lacking the bulk many South African selectors would look for in a No.8.
It’s maybe no surprise given Meyer’s clout in South Africa that he’s been able to lure talent with the promise of game time and the bright lights of America and the MLR.
However, convincing young players that a stint in the still-evolving tournament would be a good career move might have taken a stronger argument. Meyer may well have argued that playing time at the MLR beats fighting for a Currie Cup place against more established players.
The players likely view MLR as a platform to prove themselves before potentially heading back to South Africa or Europe as more experienced operators, as opposed to an end unto itself.
A former Leicester Tigers, Stormers and Bulls boss, Meyer led the Springboks to a third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup in England. He went on to become head coach at Stade Francais, before taking up his current role. While his rugby nous is beyond reproach, clearly when appointing DoRs clubs also look at what they do with regards to recruitment, and the Sabercats are certainly getting bang for their buck with Meyer.
The question might be for South African rugby: is talent drain to the MLR a real long-term concern for franchises?
Comments on RugbyPass
Well done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
6 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
6 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
6 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
6 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
6 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to comments