Prodigal Son
Kennel Established
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2004
- Messages
- 523
- Reaction score
- 25
A few of you may be aware (it has been a fairly well kept secret) that there has been the occasional rumour that former South African Springbok Loof Lirpa will soon be defecting to rugby league (and will be signing with the Bulldogs for 2006).
Afrikaner Loof Lirpa, who played 3 tests for the Springboks in 2000 has been playing club Rugby Union in Europe for the last few years (and has been well paid for it - which is why I suspect decided to curtail his promising international career and play Europen club rugby instead!).
An announcement is expected shortly in an exclusive article in one of South Africa's Afrikaans language major newspapers (I forget which one it is, but it is likely to be one of Die Burger, Rapport, Die Beeld or Volksblad). I used to be able to understand a bit of Afrikaans (I spent a few weeks in South Africa in 1987), but I have since forgotten most of the Afrikaans I once knew, so if one of you knows a bit of Afrikaans, you can have a look at the relevant website and translate when they next update their website in a few hours time (South Africa is 8 hours behind Australia).
Loof Lirpa's defection from Union to League will be big news over there, and apparently Lirpa has been paid big money for an exclusive interview (hence the secrecy to date).
I am not so sure that the purchase of Loof Lirpa for the Bulldogs in 2006 will be good value (from my memory of watching him play I thought he would be found wanting in the faster paced 13 a side code). He has good utility value (can play centre, wing or fullback), but I can't see him dislodging the present incumbents (viz Patten, Utai, el Masri, Lolesi and Tonga), although he would be useful to have as a reserve. Well, lets see what happens in 2006!
If/when I get some more information, I will post it here. Anyway, must go to bed now - I have to get up at 6am to go to work.
Afrikaner Loof Lirpa, who played 3 tests for the Springboks in 2000 has been playing club Rugby Union in Europe for the last few years (and has been well paid for it - which is why I suspect decided to curtail his promising international career and play Europen club rugby instead!).
An announcement is expected shortly in an exclusive article in one of South Africa's Afrikaans language major newspapers (I forget which one it is, but it is likely to be one of Die Burger, Rapport, Die Beeld or Volksblad). I used to be able to understand a bit of Afrikaans (I spent a few weeks in South Africa in 1987), but I have since forgotten most of the Afrikaans I once knew, so if one of you knows a bit of Afrikaans, you can have a look at the relevant website and translate when they next update their website in a few hours time (South Africa is 8 hours behind Australia).
Loof Lirpa's defection from Union to League will be big news over there, and apparently Lirpa has been paid big money for an exclusive interview (hence the secrecy to date).
I am not so sure that the purchase of Loof Lirpa for the Bulldogs in 2006 will be good value (from my memory of watching him play I thought he would be found wanting in the faster paced 13 a side code). He has good utility value (can play centre, wing or fullback), but I can't see him dislodging the present incumbents (viz Patten, Utai, el Masri, Lolesi and Tonga), although he would be useful to have as a reserve. Well, lets see what happens in 2006!
If/when I get some more information, I will post it here. Anyway, must go to bed now - I have to get up at 6am to go to work.
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