Jimmy Stonehouse to flex his muscles at the Sharks

SOUTH African rugby legend Jimmy Stonehouse, the Pumas coach with biceps the size of rugby balls, is an interesting addition to the Sharks setup for the forthcoming United Rugby Championship, although his role will be an informal one.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

It makes sense for the bigger unions to bring in rugby acumen from the smaller unions because the latter shut down for the year following the end of the Currie Cup.

And making even more sense is that the better players from the likes of the Pumas, Griquas, and Cheetahs are increasingly being loaned to the Sharks, Lions, Stormers, and Bulls. Why have valuable resources lying redundant until the start of the SA Cup next year?

Sharks coach John Plumtree said of powerlifting champion Stonehouse, “Jimmy is a thorough rugby man and a bit old school like me. We're looking to bring him in to watch over us as a group. He will have a set of eyes over our team, and we can utilise his experience.

“He will tour with us for a week or two,” added Plumtree.

As will Pumas scrumhalf Ross Braude, the former Grey College man who returned to South Africa after playing in Canada for the Toronto Arrows, and the national team.

Plumtree says his squad is “a bit thin” at the moment because of a raft of preseason injuries, not to mention the old chestnut of having ten Springboks busy with the Rugby Championship.