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Scotland No.8 Josh Strauss returns to Europe as a medical joker
By Online Editors
Josh Strauss has returned to European rugby, with the former Scotland No.8 signing on as medical joker at Oyonnax.
Now 34, Strauss still cuts an imposing figure at 6'4 and 114kg, and replaces fellow Scottish international Luke Hamilton in the squad.
The Bulls confirmed that Strauss had left the franchise back in June, insisting his departure from Loftus Versfeld was by “mutual consent”.
Capped 24 times by Scotland, Strauss in fact started his career in France with Lons le Saunier during the 2007 - 2008 season.
In 2008, he left to play for the Lions club in South Africa until 2012 before heading to PRO14 side Glasgow in 2012. The big forward showcased much of his barnstorming best rugby in Glasgow colours, and was a particular favourite of the Warriors supporters, some of whom feel his colossal carrying has never quite been replaced.
Strauss joined Sale Sharks in the summer of 2017. The South African born Number 8 made 46 appearances in all competitions during his time at the club, scoring five tries in total.
In 2019, the big number 8 joined South African Super Rugby franchise the Blue Bulls.
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Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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