An overnight report in Die Burger suggests that Stormers and Bok centre Jaque “Mossie” Fourie looks set to turn his back on the Cape Side. Fourie, currently playing in Japan on what was initially a temporary basis, now appears to be about to accept a whopping deal to play for the Panasonic club for the next 2 years.
Plenty of the Stormers midfield planning has been done around the fact that Fourie and Jean de Villiers would be their centre pairing in 2012, with another Bok in Juan de Jongh providing backup. The decision to let a number of promising young centres, including Paul Bosch, Johann Sadie and Tim Whitehead, leave the Cape for other sides now looks set to bite them in the bum, with only two recognised centres in their provisional squad list (assuming Fourie doesn’t return).
Don’t be too surprised to see coach Alister Coetzee strengthen the tone of his overtures to out-of-contract Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs. The 31-year-old, who is spending time with his family in Cape Town, is reportedly looking for some assurances from the Stormers and while Coetzee has already invited Jacobs to train with his squad on a trial basis, he may just find himself now tripping over his feet to sign the veteran, or else end up with an embarrassing midfield hole in next year’s squad.
Update: This has now been confirmed by Fourie’s agent. Statement below:
Hilton Houghton, Jaque Fourie’s agent, has confirmed that Jaque will not be returning to South Africa after his stint with the Panasonic Wild Knights. He will remain in Japan for a further 2 years where he will join Kobe Steel. It is particularly gratifying for Union Sports Group to have been able to secure a contract for Jaque, which is considered to be the most lucrative deal to have ever been awarded to a rugby player for a corresponding period.
“I am so excited to be remaining in Japan for a further 2 years with Kobe Steel. “ Jaque told Union Sports Mag.
Says Jaque: “The Japanese people have been so welcoming and we love everything about the country, including the rugby.”
“Kobe have been incredibly professional, patient and understanding in all of their dealings with me, particularly in relation to my short term stint with Panasonic, so I thank them for that and look forward to enjoying success with the Steelers.”
The Sharks and Stormers administrators and recruiters seem to be on about par at the moment!!
Well done chaps! Make is proud :middlefinger:
Certain Lion supporters would definately have something to say about Fourie`s loyalty again . . .
@Original Pierre (Comment 2) : who cares about Lions supporters… Oh wait, keep forgetting you’re a closet one
The only good thing that will come out of this for Fourie is that his bank balance will be a lot bigger. The rugby in Japan isn’t exactly the greatest.
I also think that SARU is to blame in a lot of the Boks leaving. With no Bok coach appointed the players have no clue what is happening with the Boks and why should they commit their futures in SA when there are no guarantees about the Boks.
As much as I understand The Sharks releasing Adi my stomach will turn and my heart will break seeing AD in those hoops :sob:
I think the player crying the most today is Johann Sadie. His decision to leave the Cape in search of greener pastures has just about backfired.
Fourie is the biggest of all the blows the Stormers depth charge at centre has taken in recent months but considering they still have a starting combo of Jean-Juan and could use Grant at 12, a fantastic prospect in JP du Plessis for 13(who altho I’ve only seen play for 80min recently, will still put my head on a block for and say that he’s already better than Adi), Berton Classen, the adventureous Michael vd Spuy and crisis management picks in Jacobs or Brache and possibly even Poolman at 13 if push comes to shove, they still have better overall quality and depth in midfield than the Sharks.
The Varsity Cup will probably cough up some supremely talented Ikey or Matie that was overlooked as well.
My fear is that we see an out of shape and off the pace Mossie playing for the Boks later this year. But perhaps the next Bok coach will only select local players.
This could be a huge loss to the Stormers and the Boks.
@beet (Comment 6) : Sadie also left for a FAT pay increase that WP said they wouldn’t have paid him.
Another reason for going is the frankly ridiculous physical demands that southern hemisphere rugby now places on players. Mossie and most other top boks know that 2 more years of this shit could end their careers.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Very true rob! and lets be honest…wud u turn down R22mil?
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Have to agree with you. Fourie du Preez said he was glad he was leaving now for Japan. He’s only 29!!!
Does anyone know where Paul Bosch went to?
@StevieS (Comment 11) : Paul Bosch went to Montpellier i think…
@StevieS (Comment 11) : Montpellier
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : Thanks
@beet (Comment 13) : Thanks
Come back Frikkie Walsh. All is forgiven.
Wasn’t Fourie only coming back at the end of the Japanese season anyway?
if that is the case then his availability will be pretty much the same as Peter Grant’s, in essence not a loss to the Stormers but certainly a loss to WP.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : You have enough props.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : What about old Morgan Newman. It seemed like he was building a good career for himself in Cape Town linked with Bok callups etc. Next thing de Jongh came along and Newman got thrown out with the trash the next morning.
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : shit bro… me too!
it’s official. He’s not coming back
@robdylan (Comment 20) : 22 mill for 2 years work? Is that the sum?
“It is particularly gratifying for Union Sports Group to have been able to secure a contract for Jaque, which is considered to be the most lucrative deal to have ever been awarded to a rugby player for a corresponding period.”
Jerry Maguire – is that you?!
@CapeShark (Comment 22) : Show me the money….
@beet (Comment 18) : Morgan Newman was coming through nicely and then I think he broke his leg.After that it was crash ball all day.
Spent some time in the FS but was not offered a contract.
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : I thought rugby players gets payed well, I wount even wake up for only a mill a month……….(in my dreams
)
Any player who would turn down 11 million a year would be mal uit sy kop. Might get another two year extension before he retires and he’s close to 50 million richer in the space of 4 years
I’m surprised SANZAR isn’t trying to hop into bed with Japanese Rugby with all that money around.
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Huge blow to the Stormers that!
@beet: think we shoudve offered jp dup a contract,then?
I see Renaldo Bothma signed a 2 year deal with the Pumas
If I was at the Cheetahs/Lions/Bulls I was sign Bernado Botha. This guy got skill. He has all the skill sets to be a world class winger. Speed, the step, defense and the abilty to get into the right positions. What do you think of him Beet?
Can’t blame the guy – if 22 mill is the actual number, he would be nuts to say no.
Guess WP must be rueing the players released – although they are still much better off than the Sharks.
@Zibbie (Comment 30) : good for him
No qualms with Fourie’s decision.
He’s givent eh Boks and Stormers his best years, its now time to set himself up for the rest of his life.
R1million a month is a lot of money, especially when it could en in an instant in this game, more so when you’re playing SuperRugby and 3N every year. Thats puts a lot of strain one a player’s body.
If we’d done better in the WC this year I think he might’ve thought differently. Was not the case however.
Also very chuffed for Adi.
Seems the stars are alignign for his swansong.
Welcome home boet.
Bernardo Botha was signed with the Lions but they let him go so he can get a 7′s contract
The Stormers will have a potent backline again next year but will they be able to click, maybe Jacobs is just the spark they needed
I wonder if he has been bought out of his Stormers contract and for what Price.
The Stormers have been very quiet on this development.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) : he didn’t ever sign one dude
@robdylan (Comment 39) : I actually JUST saw that on N24. Stormers have announced he won’t be back.
Adi must be smiling.
@robdylan (Comment 39) :
Wait. So Jacque Fourie never had a contract with WP?
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 41) : He didn’t sign a new one when his old one expired at the end of this season.
DHL Stormers pre-season training squad
- Friday, December 02, 2011
The DHL Stormers pre-season training squad for the 2012 season currently includes the following players:
Please note the squad is not final and players may be added at any time. The squad will only be cut closer to the competition phase and after the conditioning and tactical phases.
Gio Aplon
Reuben Johannes
Donovan Armandt
Rohan Kitshoff
Andries Bekker
Steven Kitshoff
Wicus Blaauw
Berton Klaasen
Tom Botha
Siya Kolisi
Marcel Brache
Nick Koster
Schalk Burger
Adrian Kritzinger
Nizaam Carr
Deon Carstens
Clement Lewis
Demetri Catrakilis
Tiaan Liebenberg
Kurt Coleman
Hilton Lobberts
Bolla Conradie
Frans Malherbe
Juan de Jongh
Scarra Ntubeni
Jean de Villiers
Joe Pietersen
JP du Plessis
Danie Poolman
Dewaldt Duvenage
Quinn Roux
Rynhardt Elstadt
Louis Schreuder
Eben Etzebeth
De Kock Steenkamp
Nick Fenton-Wells
Tim Swiel
Schalk Ferreira
Ricky Schroeder
Deon Fourie
Gary van Aswegen
Burton Francis
Gerhard van den Heever
Peter Grant
Hein van der Merwe
Nic Groom
Michael van der Spuy
Bryan Habana
Willem van Wyk
Brok Harris
Allister Vermaak
Yaya Hartzenberg
Duane Vermeulen
Geen elgar watts nie..en geen adi jacobs nie…
Watts is beseer weet nie van ad nie. Sien ook dat Boland Ricardo Croy het vir volgende jaar.
Dankie vir die info oom PaarlBok
@bergshark (Comment 46) : Geen probleem my mater. Ons kry warm nou hier by die Boland se berge.
Lieflike kaapse berge oom PaarlBok-ja_nee ,die boland kan lekker warm raak!
Sien cobras in die one-day final.
“Coetzee told Die Burger newspaper that Jacobs did not react to his invitation to train with them, which is the reason for his omission. “
@PaarlBok (Comment 50) : Heard that on a radio interview on Monday.
Mentioned it on a thread yesterday somewhere
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 51) : Coming to Boland?
@PaarlBok (Comment 52) : Thought he was too expensive for Boland. Wheres Charlie?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 53) : Frankryk it is then. Saw Ricardo Croy is running with Boland this year.
@PaarlBok (Comment 54) : For reals?Good for him. Will be good to see Croy and Watts battle it out for the Boland ten jersey.
Why weepee/stormers not having a better look at watts??
@bergshark (Comment 56) : Injured at the moment.
@PaarlBok: thanks for the update.watts is an exciting player to watch.thought he’d be in the stormers sr team last year when he moved down to the boland.but was surprised to see him not used.
Boland squad updated
http://www.bolandrugby.com/boland_rugby_team.php
Boland surely the exapmle for Saru if they want to know what needs to be done regarding transformation in rugby.
@bergshark (Comment 58) : Dunno Boet. These days Boland look like feeding all the SA franchises except the Stormers. Pitty they cant get into the Premier CC league again.
@PaarlBok: bit of topic: reading 3 other bloggers discussing a natal vs ntvl game in ’80 made me think of my first rugby memories.
Danie gerber was the first I can recall.
Then the try of carel du plessis when they played for that south vs north invitation game in 1986 (britain).with players like naas and danie gerber in the team.
Once agan carel du plessis at newlands versus nz cavaliers when he scored that brilliant try in the corner ( of the dead ball line ) after a brilliant pin point accurate cross kick from naas .can almost still hear the crowd chanting: “nou!nou!nou! “.springboks won the line out in nz 22m.ball to naas,the cross kick ,gerhard viviers screaming over the microphone for carel dup to “duik carel,duik!.”
And the conbversion from the touchline by naas to make it sa 21 nz 15.goose bumps
And one closer to weepee hearts.
1986 cc final vs tvl .weepee traling but then goggie van heerden scored that great try in the corner again ( with that awesome dive ) and finished it up with a second (where he was swamped by weepee fans ).
Great memories those.
And also graham hefer running in a super try for natal against tvl.brilliant.
@PaarlBok (Comment 50) : Bad news.
Would`ve like to see him in action for wp, if only for one reason.
Wonder what Charlie thinks about it?
I’m happy for Adi. Go to France and make some money for your older days ahead buddy.
@Ben (Comment 63) : Hey man. No game. Could not bring myself to buying console just for 1 game. I’m not really a gamer. Still pondering about a PC upgrade. How much do you know about PC graphics cards + monitors.
@beet (Comment 64) : Those upgrades are always a hassle. You have to find a Graphics card that goes with your motherboard. The newer graphics cards usually works on the new motherboards. So when you are talking about upgrading you might have to replace your motherboard, RAM and graphics card. Much better to buy a console for 2 grand and then you know any game you buy for it will work on it. Don’t play games on my pc at all.
@Ben (Comment 65) : Oh yes and on top of that you have to replace your processor that works on the new motherboard. And that’s the real expensive part.
@beet (Comment 64) : Dont tell me you are playing TV/Computer games?
@PaarlBok (Comment 67) : No, I don’t play TV games. That’s the problem. I don’t have much interest in these games. I just want to play the Rugby Challenge game.
@Ben (Comment 66) : Thanks Ben. I worked out that the min PC changes wud cost at least R5500.
WTH? According to an article in Yesterday’s Burger, Jacobs has not bothered to respond to the invitation to train with the Stormers and he’s been excluded from the 53man pre-season training group because of this.
How to sabotage your career 101, unless of course you are on your way abroad.