Dreyer and Van Rensburg are going nowhere‚ says Lions CEO Straeuli

30 January 2018 - 15:37 By Liam Del Carme
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Ruan Dreyer of the Golden Lions during the Currie Cup match between Xerox Golden Lions and Steval Pumas at Emirates Airline Park on September 02, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ruan Dreyer of the Golden Lions during the Currie Cup match between Xerox Golden Lions and Steval Pumas at Emirates Airline Park on September 02, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Image: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images

Tighthead Ruan Dreyer and centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg are contracted to remain with the Lions this season‚ the franchise’s chief executive Rudolf Straeuli insisted on Tuesday.

Both players have been linked with moves to Gloucester‚ where former Lions coach Johan Ackermann took the reins at the completion of Super Rugby last year.

Straeuli though was firm and he said the players cannot enter into negotiations just yet.

“They are both contracted to the Lions for Super Rugby and the Currie Cup." he said.

"We are in negotiations with them to extend those contracts until next year.

“Besides‚ they cannot enter into negotiations with other clubs yet because of the 180-day period that precludes such activity.

“Anyone wishing to negotiate with them must ask for the Lions for permission.

"At this stage there haven’t been enquiries. There certainly hasn’t been anything official.”

Gloucester are apparently in the market for a tighthead after John Afoa‚ who also represented the All Blacks on 36 occasions‚ switched allegiance to Bristol.

Janse van Rensburg is on loan with Sale Sharks in Manchester but is expected to return for Super Rugby.

Straeuli ventured a guess as to why there is doubt about the players’ future.

“I’m not sure why there is all this speculation now.

"Maybe it’s just their agents stirring.

"Both players are still contracted with us and there are buy-out clauses that apply.

"However‚ we have not been approached and at the moment we are reserving our rights‚” Straeuli said.

The Lions have already suffered a pre season setback after Bok wing Courtnall Skosan was ruled out of Super Rugby with an ACL tear.

The Lions beat a Bulls XV 66-22 last Saturday but their Super Rugby opener against the Sharks on February 17 is likely to be a much sterner test.


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