1
'Will add great value': Leicester back row Brink heads home to URC
The recent trend of South African players being signed to bolster Gallagher Premiership leaders Leicester has finally been reversed, United Rugby Championship (URC) newcomers the Bulls announcing the capture of Tigers back-rower Cyle Brink. Hanro Liebenberg, Jaco Taute, Jasper Wiese, Marco van Staden, Francois van Wyk and Kobus van Wyk – along with Brink – have all been part of the 2021/22 squad under Steve Borthwick which next season will be bolstered by the arrival of Handre Pollard.
ADVERTISEMENT
With the salary cap tightening in England it was inevitable something might give and soon-to-be 28-year-old Brink, whose only Premiership start this season came against Bath on the same weekend of the Autumn Nations Series action in early November, will now link up with the Jake White-coached URC franchise in Pretoria after December 31 following his early release from his contract in England.
A member of the Springboks squad in 2018, the versatile back-rower joined Leicester in summer 2020 after the plug had been pulled on the old Super Rugby tournament where the South African teams went head to head with opposition from Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.
Brink went on to make a total of 19 appearances for Leicester, twelve as a starter, but the immense competition in Borthwick’s back row has resulted in him seeking out a fresh challenge back home where he originally broke through as a member of the South African U20s World Cup side in 2014 and spent six years with the Lions before joining Leicester.
The Bulls have found the switch to URC from Super Rugby testing, their maiden season in the tournament resulting in just a single win so far in five outings, form only good enough for a 15th from 16 teams ranking. A statement announcing their new signing read: “We are excited to announce explosive loose-forward Cyle Brink as the latest addition to the squad. Renowned as a barnstorming runner and an ace at the breakdown, Brink is expected to add depth and experience to a talented group of loose-forwards at the Vodacom Bulls.”
? NEW SIGNING ALERT ?
We are delighted to welcome Cyle Brink to Loftus? An unstoppable ball carrier that became famous for his barn storming runs for the Sigma Lions and Leicester Tigers ? We can’t wait to see him wreck havoc in a Vodacom Bulls jersey ? #TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/5hx8LduGWZ
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) December 20, 2021
“We are very happy to have secured the services of Cyle Brink,” said Bulls boss White. “Cyle is an exceptionally gifted athlete who has proven himself as a world-class rugby player from his time at the Lions and now at Leicester. We have no doubt that he will add great value to the squad, both on and off the field, and will equally contribute with his stellar performances, experience and leadership qualities. We look forward to seeing him in the blue jumper.”
Leicester boss Borthwick added: “Cyle has had an interrupted time with us after joining during the first lockdown but he has worked tirelessly every day he has been here to get himself in the best possible condition to develop as a player and to do everything he can to help the team.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He has been a really important part of the Leicester Tigers squad during this rebuild. An opportunity for him has come up in the new year, back home in South Africa, and we wish Cyle all the best in this next chapter with the Bulls. I want to thank him for his contribution to our club and the part he played in the very early stages of this journey we are on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments