Transfers - Bath and Munster hold on to stars as Ospreys sign South African centre on short-term deal
It’s been a busy morning on the transfer markets, as both Bath and Munster have revealed that they have held on to two of their biggest stars respectively, while Ospreys have signed a South African centre on a short-term deal.
Ospreys Rugby are delighted to announce the signing of Johnny Kotze on a three month contract.
Described as “one of the most important cogs” at the Bulls following a season where he scored seven tries in 16 Super Rugby appearances, Kotze has agreed a short-term contract with the Region and will link up with the Ospreys later this month.
Capable of playing at inside and outside centre, as well as wing, 25-year old Kotze is 1.85m tall and weights in at 89kg.
Speaking after confirming his move to the Liberty Stadium, Kotze said:
“I am super psyched to join the Ospreys after the 2018 Currie Cup season. The Ospreys have had a great PRO 14 season thus far and I am looking forward to contributing to the club’s success in any way I can.”
Born in Carltonville, Kotze will add considerable experience to the Ospreys backline, having come through at Cape Town based Western Province before getting his first taste of Super Rugby with Stormers, featuring regularly in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
He then moved to Pretoria where he has played in the Currie Cup for Blue Bulls, this year establishing himself as an influential member of the Bulls’ Super Rugby squad. He is currently involved in Currie Cup action, with Blue Bulls well placed for a semi-final spot going into the final round of action this weekend. He will travel to Wales as soon as club’s involvement in the competition comes to an end.
Dan Griffiths, Rugby General Manager, welcomed Kotze, saying he will have an important role to play over the next three months.
“We are going in to an important period in terms of our aspirations for the season, with international call-ups and injuries impacting, so to have the ability to bring in a player of Johnny’s quality will give everyone a real boost.”
“Developing home grown talent remains a priority for us, as it should be, and we are proud to have an average of 21 Welsh qualified players in our matchday squad this season, but we recognise that adding in the right non Welsh qualified talent can help us achieve our performance targets.”
Meanwhile Bath Rugby have confirmed that Semesa Rokoduguni has signed a new long-term contract with the Club.
Rokoduguni has spent his entire professional career with the Blue, Black and White, scoring twice on his debut against Dragons in November 2012. The winger has continued his prolific try-scoring throughout his time in the West Country, with 48 tries in his 126 appearances to date.
A serving soldier in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Rokoduguni said: “Bath is where my rugby journey started, and I couldn’t think of playing anywhere else. It doesn’t seem like six years since I made my first appearance. We have a hugely talented squad and coaching setup, and I know that there are great things to come from this group.
“I am extremely grateful to the British Army for allowing me the opportunity to play for Bath Rugby and for continuing to support me.”
Director of Rugby, Todd Blackadder, added: “Roko is one of the most gifted players I’ve ever worked with. He is one of a kind – he has the ability to create something out of nothing, so we’re understandably delighted that Roko’s committed his future to the Club.
“Our long-term plan is to develop a system around exceptional people and Roko is one of those. He has the attributes which will inevitably support the likes of Joe (Cokanasiga) with his development, which is a huge positive.”
Meanwhile, despite a mystery injury that has kept him sidelined since the start of the season, Conor Murray has signed a massive IRFU deal that will keep him in the red of Munster and green of Ireland for years to come.
Arguably the best scrumhalf on the planet, Murray’s new contract extension which will see him play his rugby in Ireland up to at least the end of June 2022.
The IRFU also revealed that the contract was also signed in early September and has been kept under wraps since. Speculation has mounted in Ireland over the injury and why neither the player nor Munster are willing to talk about it.
The contract is wholly funded by the IRFU.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments