After two years in the wilderness after a drugs test that went sour, talented Sharks flyhalf Herkie Kruger is back in the frame and the controlling body has once again got his signature on paper.
He will be reinstated in normal team training with immediate effect.
A delighted Sharks coach Kevin Putt said: ”He is now available to play and this is hugely exciting for us.”
Kruger will be given some game time in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday night when the Sharks play a friendly game against the Leopards at the Woodburn Oval, Putt said.
”This is a good opportunity to blood him into the system once again.”
Kruger said: ”It is great to be back. It’s hard to believe that I have been away from rugby for two years. I can’t believe it is finally over and it is so good to be back with the Sharks.”
The 22 players to play the Stormers in the first round of the 2005 Super 12 on February 25 will be named after the Leopards game, which has a scheduled 6pm start.
For the moment, however, Putt and the management are waiting for medical and conditioning feedback on a number of the players who did not travel to Sun City for the match against the Bulls or to London for the game against the Harlequins.
John Smit, Butch James, Warren Britz, Henno Mentz, Adrian Jacobs, Johann Muller and Deon Carstens will all be assessed during the week. — Sapa