Schalk off to Saracens
English Premiership champions Saracens have signed Schalk
Burger on a two year deal which will see the Springbok flanker play for
the club from the beginning of the 2016/2017 season.
In a statement on the Saracens website,
Burger, who has 86 Springbok caps, says he is excited at the prospect
of playing in both the English Premiership as well as the European Cup.
“I’m
delighted to be joining Saracens. I’m extremely excited to have the
opportunity to play in both the Aviva Premiership and the European Cup,
two of the leading competitions in world rugby for such a special club,"
said Burger.
Burger will join Saracens after finishing a spell
in Japan where he plays for the Suntory Sungoliath and only after his
Super Rugby commitments to the Stormers.
Mark McCall, director of rugby at Saracens believes the experience that Burger will bring to Saracens is invaluable, especially with the club losing back rowers Ernst Joubert and Jacques Burger to retirement.
“Schalk is a Springbok legend, and will add a huge amount of experience and quality to our young English pack of forwards at the club. We have always talked about having the right blend of experience and youth in our squad, so to be able to add one of the world’s finest players to the group is extremely exciting news."
"By the beginning of next season we will have lost two highly experienced back row forwards in Ernst Joubert and Jacques Burger, so to have a player of Schalk’s calibre coming into the squad is fantastic news.
“He is a man who has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game of rugby. Not only is he a fine rugby player, he is a humble and down to earth guy who we believe we will fit into the Saracens environment.
“We’re all very excited to welcome Schalk and his family to Allianz Park for the 2016 season," added McCall.
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