Lions looking thinner as key moves loom
Lions’ hooker Akker Van der Merwe joins Sharks; Ackermann Jnr to UK?
Is the project that coach Johan Ackermann undertook over the past four seasons at the Lions starting to unravel now that he is moving on to Gloucester in England’s Premier League? The Sharks have confirmed that Lions’ hooker Akker van der Merwe will join them, while unconfirmed reports say that loose forward Ruan Ackermann will join his father in England. Van der Merwe‚ 26‚ will join the Durban team on a two-year deal from this week. He was the Lions’ second-choice hooker and was earlier expected to play a pivotal role in their Currie Cup campaign with first-choice Malcolm Marx on Springbok duty. Losing Ackermann Jnr would also be a blow to squad depth as he has been an integral part of the Lions’ last two Super Rugby campaigns, in which they have reached the final in consecutive seasons. The Lions fell short in Super Rugby’s showpiece at the weekend‚ losing 25-17 to the Crusaders at Ellis Park. After being reduced to 14 men late in the first half when flank Kwagga Smith was red-car...
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