Van Straaten determined to boost Tykes
December 4, 2001

Leeds' new recruit Braam Van Straaten is determined to aid the Tykes' resurgence after three successive heavy Zurich Premiership defeat.

Van Straaten, who won back-to-back Currie Cups with Western commented, "I am not a one-man cavalry. This is a team game. I have to succeed to justify my decision. I am very proud of what I do. If a little bit of that can rub off we can really do well.

"I don't know a lot about the Premiership, and most of the players will know more about me than I do about them.

"But I am a fast learner and I will go through the tapes. Let's face it, if they can beat Leicester once why can't they do it twice. We should be aiming for the top eight and with a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work we can get it.

"This is a new challenge, and I have to succeed to justify my decision to come here. I am very proud of what I do. If a little bit of that can rub off we can really do well."

Van Straaten's move to the Zurich Premiership has almost certainly ended his international career and in coming to Yorkshire he turned his back on a lucrative contract with the Boks.

"I was offered a very good contract by the Springboks with no performance clause," said the 30-year-old stand-off, who won his 21st cap in last month's defeat by England at Twickenham.

"I did think about it but I was determined to come here. I appreciate that my international days are probably over as a result. But I am not a person who goes back on my word and I also wanted to spend more time with my family, which I will be able to with Leeds."

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