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Well, it’s only taken about 6 weeks, but the Lions have, according to an article in Rapport, finally issued a release certificate for Jaque Fourie.
It’s not really worth recapping the whole sad saga, but an independent arbitration committee found, way back in October, that the Lions didn’t have any valid hold on Fourie and the lack of a contract notwithstanding, the inept Lions administration saw fit to further delay the player’s transfer to Western Province by insisting on a written offer from Cape Town, which they admitted they wouldn’t counter anyway. Not a very bright bunch, this – if the contract isn’t valid, it isn’t valid; you can’t still cling to provisions in that contract, as it’s been proved worthless.
A second round of arbitration, involving SARU’s own legal folk, has now pointed this fact out to the Lions and they’ve been ordered to release Fourie forthwith. Further compounding the misery is an order to pay all of the player’s legal costs, apparently running into the hundreds of thousands of rands.
I wonder if Kevin de Klerk and his crew of hard hitters will really insist on going down exactly the same route with Louis Ludik and Willem Alberts, both of whom have exactly the same invalid “contracts” with the Lions as Fourie had. The Sharks have found their efforts to finally sign these players frustrated beyond all reason, all in the interests of “playing hardball” as a “matter of principle”. Apparently, the fact that Ludik and Alberts are quite openly training with the Sharks despite said release certificates being outstanding irks the Lions greatly. The irony, though, is that Cheetahs scrumhalf JP Joubert is doing exactly the same thing in training with the Lions whilst still bound by an (admittedly disputed) contract with the Bloemfontein union. Pot calling the kettle black, perhaps?
Stay tuned, Sharksworld readers. We’ll have a nice surprise for you just as soon as the Lions do finally release the pair. Let’s just hope that they don’t take too much longer (or spend too much more money) in coming to the obvious conclusion here.
Soon we will have the Worlds Greatest 13 on our books!!!
I really feel for Dick, that sounds terrible but as this is a rugga site it should be ok. Dick really must wonder what he’s got himself into, by the time he gets to his new job he may not have many players!
@billy (Comment 2) : yup… poor sod. Then again, I’m sure the money is OK
Haven’t seen you here in a while!
@wpw (Comment 1) : Ja, ja he’s mos your hero
@Charlie (Comment 4) : happy birthday, Charlie!
@Charlie (Comment 4) :
Happy birfday my bru!!
Gat ons vanaand celebrate???
About bloody time.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : have become a reader vs poster. Between my 2 jobs and running the kids christmas initiative my social networking and rugby comments have dried up. I am online in spirit often though.
@McLovin (Comment 7) : I thought he was pretty average on Saturday, though…
@billy (Comment 8) : that’s fair enough
So long as you say hi every once in a while 
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Super 14 soon! YOu may have me like a bad rash.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Happy happy Charlie…..ek hoop jy het lekker babalas moreoggend.
Is Ludik mobile yet? That injury looked nasty.
@billy (Comment 11) : I can’t wait!
@billy (Comment 13) : apparently not quite running freely yet. Expecting to be fit about 2-3 weeks into the Super 14
@Pokkel (Rugby’s over, back to fishing) (Comment 12) :
Fortunately our friend Charlie does NOT partake of the wino!!
@robdylan (Comment 14) : Its a big move from the sharks to buy him with such a serious injury. Although they probably view broken bones as less of a risk than a second or third ligament injury. Cant wait to see him in Sharks colours, rate him highly and believe he’s a great bloke.
@billy (Comment 16) : yeah – also really keen to see what he can do.
@wpw (Comment 15) : Good for him…..I probably could have bought my house cash if I save all the money I’ve boozed away
@Pokkel (Rugby’s over, back to fishing) (Comment 18) : and if you add other little vices to it – one could be a millionnaire
@rekinek (Comment 20) : I am really rethinking this season ticket thing
you can only purchase these gems from the Shark tank which is open for ticket sales from 8:00 to 15:00 Monday to Friday!! So if you work and do not live in Durban, you are royally stoughed!!!!! Obviously the Sharks are happy to have supporters from DBN only!!! and no wonder the stadium was half empty for the semis 
Australian star Quade Cooper was arrested over the weekend and has been charged with burglary after he allegedly was caught robbing a residence on the Gold Coast.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE CHARLIE!!
From your favourite Angel!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 21) :
that sucks a bit. but can’t you organise over the phone and pay via internet or sth like that. They should be accomodating.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 22) : perhaps they don’t pay them enough
@rekinek (Comment 24) : Apparently not
The lady on the phone from the ticket office said they are not allowed to sell over the phone 
But I e-mailed a letter of complaint and am waiting for a reply, if I don’t get one by tomorrow, I’ll e-mail Oom Rudi or Brian himself 
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 26) : go girl!
that’s truly ridiculous.
I’ve finally figured out why the Lions haven’t released Alberts and Ludick yet.
They are still waiting for a Party invite with Barney on it and Party-pack to eat in the car on the way home. Freaking infants!
Hey Charlie,
Where are you,
I logged in
just to say,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to you.
@Baldrick (Comment 28) : nice
HALLO EVERYBODY, THANX FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY WISHES, MUCH APPRECIATED
