Springboks fear raids from NRL, Aussie rugby union poachers FORTHRIGHT World Cup winner John Smit has bluntly warned talent-hungry Australian scouts in the NRL and rugby union to keep their hands off South Africa's budding 'Boks. The decorated Springboks captain yesterday admitted for the first time he regarded rugby league as a genuine threat through the poaching of South Africa's top schoolboy talent. "South Africa produces a huge amount of talent at the schools level and the boys are being seen as good assets for rugby league and now even Australian rugby," Smit, 31, said. The Sydney Roosters have been the most brazen. They signed muscular centre JP du Plessis, 18, to a three-year deal in June and it is believed the bottom-placed NRL club has swooped on three more South African teenagers to develop through the under-20 Toyota Cup. www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 89,00.html

Springboks fear raids from NRL, Aussie rugby union poachers FORTHRIGHT World Cup winner John Smit has bluntly warned talent-hungry Australian scouts in the NRL and rugby union to keep their hands off South Africa's budding 'Boks. The decorated Springboks captain yesterday admitted for the first time he regarded rugby league as a genuine threat through the poaching of South Africa's top schoolboy talent. "South Africa produces a huge amount of talent at the schools level and the boys are being seen as good assets for rugby league and now even Australian rugby," Smit, 31, said. The Sydney Roosters have been the most brazen. They signed muscular centre JP du Plessis, 18, to a three-year deal in June and it is believed the bottom-placed NRL club has swooped on three more South African teenagers to develop through the under-20 Toyota Cup. www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 89,00.html

The Roosters need to go to South Africa to look for players because they have no juniors of their own!

yes freakasauras. these players might 1 day play for the kangaroo's. we are catching up to the england rort

I'll reserve laughter at those Rooster signings because of the man who does their scouting.

There's still room to giggle though, after my team has brought through Josh Dugan, Jarrod Croker, Daniel Vidot and Travis Waddell from the U20s this year. Justin Carney and Joel Thompson last year.

maybe the boks should set a rugby league academy, they seem to have the talent to promote our beloved code, in the long run if the nrl or maybe super league keeps signing good south african talent, they may produce a decent international team in the future. I kno the south africans have no interest in League but you never know.............

To be honest they haven't had much exposure. The more SA League players we get the better for the hope of our game there - and not everyone can make the Bocs so many will jump to a different game with potential.

Phuckum.

Is that in Thailand?

in that case its pronounced poo kum

don't we have a NRL forum anymore??

what a disgusting combination

They have an interest, briefly the ARL was getting decent viewing figures in SA and this led to a national league being set up. However, RU essentially banned RL anc choked it's death.

Either way, we're not strong enough to consider taking on the SA RU with a RL franchise at the min.

they have a club in jo burg

Could these lads become the basis for a South African national team?

no. no no . they will play for the kangaroo's

personally dont think we should do it.

weve got plenty of our own

if the roosters cant find juniors in their area move somewhere in queensland or to perth

Your the roosters recruitment officer.

You now find that between all the lower grades you struggle to find any decent young players that are off contract.


What do you do?



Look overseas!

Just another reason the roosters dont belong in the NRL. That and the lack of fans.

perth roosters.

WA has good junior RL numbers

No thanks, stop trying to off load your Sydney e on us!

its all you deserve frankly.

alot of players over in SA

my names not Frank!

hardly their falt, they have the smallest catchment area in terms of size and population.

Your right. Thats just the facts of the matter.

No juniors.
No fans.

No needs for them.

14 of 27 Dragons players used this year weren't St George or Illawarra juniors: that 14 included 7 QLDers and a QLD coach, and Dragons forward Jarrod Saffy is from Johannesburg. Should the Dragons move to QLD? The Panthers used 10 players that weren't juniors, including 5 QLDers. Should the Panthers move to QLD?

The Roosters have got a few local players in:
* Bondi United product Tom Symonds,
* Clovelly Crocodiles product Shaun Kenny Dowell,
* Paddington Tigers products Anthony Cherrington and Sandor Earl
* Braith Anasta (from Maroubra, which is in the Eastern Suburbs).

Like teams in other sports leagues around the world (like the English Premier League or NBA), the Roosters and most NRL teams will take on players if they are good enough. The Roosters have used players from NZ (Soliola, Hauraki and Nuuausala), England (Morley and Tansey), Fiji (Sisa and Stanley Waqa), and now South Africa (Du Plessis), and thus by giving foreigners a chance have at least done much more to foster the growth of international RL than the Panthers or Dragons.