Champagne for everyone!!!

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Stormers scrumhalf Januarie quits Bok rugby

Ricky Januarie has withdrawn from the Springboks' preliminary Rugby World Cup squad after announcing his retirement from international rugby.

The 29-year-old Western Province scrumhalf made his decision after discussions with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

"Ricky has been a great servant to the Springboks and to all the teams he has represented over a long and successful career, " said De Villiers.

"He is a combative and fearless player and has been a part of some memorable Springbok performances. I wish him all the best for the new chapter in his playing career. "

Januarie has been released from his contract by Western Province and will join French club Lyon in time for the start of the new European season and his participation in the Stormers Super Rugby season is in doubt.

"I've had a great run in South African rugby and have some fantastic memories but the time has come to move on, " said Januarie.

"Lyon have offered me a new beginning and I want to concentrate all my efforts on helping them in their first season in the French Top 14. "

De Villiers said that he was comfortable to release Januarie as his inclusion in the preliminary Rugby World Cup squad was to offer experienced cover should other senior scrumhalves suffer injury.

"Ricky and I chatted and he knew where he stood in our Rugby World Cup plans, " said De Villiers.

"He has reached the stage in his career where he wants to move on and there was no reason to stand in his way.

"He has produced some memorable moments over the years and his match-winning try against New Zealand in Dunedin will be remembered as long as the Springboks play. "

Januarie made the first of 47 Test caps under coach Jake White against Uruguay in East London in 2005 - his last was against New Zealand in Soweto last year.

He collected winners' medals at the World Under-21 championships in 2002 and Rugby World Cup in 2007 and was part of the Springbok squad that won the Castle Tri-Nations Series and the series against the British and Irish Lions in 2009.

He made his provincial debut for Boland in 2002 before moving to the Golden Lions.

He spent six years in Johannesburg before returning to the Western Cape in 2008 to join Western Province.

He recently made his 50th Super Rugby appearance for the Stormers - and 93rd for all teams in the competition.

superxv.com


WOOHOO!!! This is the best news since hearing Luke Watson decided to never represent the Boks in the beautiful Green!!!

 

[Amobokoboko]

So he had some discussions with P-diddy. Curious to see who will follow.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Sounds like daddy-issues, right stormer2010?

 

[Aout]

Was he that bad ? I mean he wouldn't have 47 caps if he wasn't talented.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, if you are in front by 10 points and want to kill time, he is the perfect scrumhalf. He is slow as a snail, has no quality kicking in him and his offloading is also average. We have Pienaar, Hougaard, Pretorius, du Preez, de Kock which all can do better than him. It's a shame he even got to 47 caps!

 

[Amobokoboko]

I remember a post earlier this week mentioning the full squad for this summer. Why would you include somebody to drop him only a few days later.
I know P-Diddy isn't thet best communicator but I hope he informed the other players that they made the team.

 

[nickdnz]

He wasn't that bad. He was great 3-4 years ago.

 

[Jer1cho]

He wasn't that bad. He was great 3-4 years ago.

HaHa. Love this post. He was decent long ago. But for the last 2 years, he has been a quota player. It's sad for him, but still, that memory of him scoring the winner against NZ in 2008 will be remembered as his finest moment. I wish him all the best in France.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Well, if you are in front by 10 points and want to kill time, he is the perfect scrumhalf. He is slow as a snail, has no quality kicking in him and his offloading is also average. We have Pienaar, Hougaard, Pretorius, du Preez, de Kock which all can do better than him. It's a shame he even got to 47 caps!

Wow, the Dutch have some quality SH's!

 

[User1245]

Yeah it would be nice to have an experienced backup to Fourie du Preez, but I'd take inexperience over incompetence anyday.
Januarie has unfortunately become incompetent at the level of rugby required for the Boks and WP. He's just not up to it anymore.

So thank you Enrico, for the memories (Dunedin 2008) and thank you for knowing when to call it a day.

Now....... Who's gonna replace him?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Wow, the Dutch have some quality SH's!

Haha, when will this end? Maybe I should just change my flag to SA...

 

[Seaton]

ZaK Paedo dA vI!!E@r5!?!

Hiz Jis te bang te ad-mite dat he wiz wrang, so he gi Januarie ti re-sign!!!

P-Divvy = Tool + 5/3

But honestly, I do find it srange that he chose to retire, guess I'll have to wait for memoirs...
Aww, he's only 3 away from 50!

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Januarie is only 29???

 

[Darwin]

I'm certainly not celebrating... As an AB's supporter I always loved it when he was in the Boks team

 

[Bossco]

As above, now I just hope they hold onto Habana.

 

[Larksea]

Seems a strange thing to happen, I wouldn't be suprised if there was more to the story than what we see in the press.

I dont know him as a player much apaet from that one test match in 2008 in Dunedin. It was a very average NZ team.
I remember:

Andy Elis at 9 was horid, getting injured in 2008 Was the best thing did for the All Blacks that year.
Brand Thorn was out suspended
Kaino was struggleing at 8
Boric and Thompson still finding their feet at test level.

Even though the AB's didn't really fire they were still on course for a win but Ricky came up with something out of this world and got a perfect (lucky) bounce of the ball off a perfect little chip kick. Really was a spectacular try. pretty awesome considering nothing else in that game was very special.

That game and the next loss to Australia for the AB's really paved the way though. Henry & Co rang some critical player changes after these two losses and the All Blacks basically became unbeatable for the rest of the year.

 

[Peat]

Yeah it would be nice to have an experienced backup to Fourie du Preez, but I'd take inexperience over incompetence anyday.
Januarie has unfortunately become incompetent at the level of rugby required for the Boks and WP. He's just not up to it anymore.

So thank you Enrico, for the memories (Dunedin 2008) and thank you for knowing when to call it a day.

Now....... Who's gonna replace him?

Pienaar's hardly inexperienced.