Stormers bring in Lions lock

Editor

The Stormers have recruited Lions lock Marius Coetzer in an effort to replenish their ailing player contingent.

The Stormers have recruited Lions lock Marius Coetzer in an effort to replenish their ailing player contingent.

Several Lions players have made their way to the Stormers and Sharks franchises in recent weeks, with a spate of injuries forcing the Cape Town and Durban-based outfits to look beyond their provinces for replacements.

“Fortunately a player like Marius Coetzer, who has played over 100 first-class games and a number of Super Rugby games for the Lions, was available,” Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said on Wednesday.

“He's been selected for the SA President's XV, who were training in Cape Town, and I was able to draft him.”

29-year-old Coetzer turned out for the Lions in last year's Super Rugby series, and represents the Pumas in lower tier competitions.

The Pretoria-born Coetzer is no stranger to Western Province rugby circles, after playing for the Western Cape union in the 2006 and 2007 Vodacom Cup competitions.

The Stormers have struggled in this season's Super Rugby campaign, and are lying second last in the SA conference standings, six points ahead of bottom-placed newbies the Southern Kings, ahead of their match against the Reds at Newlands on Saturday.