NAMIBIAN flanker Tinus du Plessis, who was recently signed by English Premier League club Wasps, has already set his sights on going toe-to-toe with compatriot and national team captain Jacques Burger.
According to Wasps’ official website, the 27-year-old Du Plessis, who previously had a spell in England with Rotherham, can’t wait for the Premiership encounter with Saracens.’We were room-mates,’ Du Plessis told the official Wasps site. ‘I already had some grief from him on Monday when Wasps lost, with some texts coming through.’But I told him I will see him, hopefully, on January 12 when we meet them at home, so we can talk then!’Wasps lost 39-10 to Gloucester on December 26 and are currently ninth on the English Premiership League table.Namibian captain Burger has carved out an impressive reputation in the Aviva Premiership since arriving at Saracens in 2009 – with the 28-year-old having also been one of the standout players at the World Cup despite Namibia’s heavy defeats.Burger, though, will now be joined in the Premiership by Du Plessis, with his friend and fellow flanker having signed a short-term deal at Wasps.Du Plessis has officially teamed up with his new club-mates having had to wait for his visa and paperwork to clear following the tournament.Du Plessis joined Wasps following an impressive World Cup campaign where he featured in all four games for his country, winning the Man of the Match award in the game against Wales.The back-row also made three appearances for Namibia in the 2007 World Cup going on to represent his country at the Africa Cup in 2008 and 2009 and play a key role in qualification for the 2011 World Cup. He also won an IRB Nations Cup medal in 2010.The dynamic 27-year-old can play in all three backrow positions and has experience of English rugby after a stint with Rotherham, where he was awarded the club’s player of the year in 2009.London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: ‘Everyone knows we have struggled for strength in depth in the back-row, with retirements and injuries making it very tough for us there. I was very impressed with Tinus at the World Cup and he brings the added bonus of versatility in a few positions so we will be a welcome addition for the rest of the season.’Du Plessis said: ‘I am delighted to be joining Wasps. It’s been a dream of mine to play in the Premiership and to have joined a club with Wasps’ rich history both domestically and on a European front makes it so much the better. I’m really looking forward in joining up with the boys and hopefully being able to contribute to their goals.’ – namibiasport.com.na
