The Bakkies Botha saga – or rather the Bulls versus Toulon battle – just doesn’t want to go away. The latest twist has seen club president Mourad Boudjellal threaten both Botha and the Bulls with legal action.
The ongoing battle of wills and egos – which would have been humorous had it not been such a serious matter – has seen a month-long standoff between the Pretoria-based Bulls and the Toulon club in the south of France on the Mediterranean coast.
Rugby 365 reports that it started last month when Botha, who played a record 26 Tests with fellow World Cup winner Victor Matfield in the Springbok second row, asked to be released from his contract with the Bulls so he can join the ambitious French Second Division (Pro D2) outfit.
However, the Bulls have denied his request and insisted he fulfils his contract with them – which runs until 2011.
The enigmatic Boudjellal has repeatedly claimed that he has a legal and binding contract with Botha – who was originally set to join the Toulon club at the beginning of March.
That deadline arrived and went by, with Botha continuing to train with the Bulls in Pretoria.
He was named to play for the Bulls against the Sharks in a Super 14 match last Saturday, but withdrew because he had not fully recovered from an ankle injury. He has again been named in the team this week – to face the Lions on Friday and in the Bulls’ tour squad to Australasia.
However, Boudjellal has reacted angrily to reports that he has lost out in the battle to secure Botha’s services and have now threaten legal action.
“On the matter of Bakkies Botha: The player signed a contract and must be in Toulon on April 1, 2008. If he is not present, the RCT [Rugby Club Toulonnais] will initiate a legal procedure against the player and the Bulls,” an angry Boudjellal said in a video interview posted on the club’s website.
However, it is believed that Boudjellal’s reaction is that of a man who is angry because he feels insulted after his authority was challenged and he doesn’t like it.
The Frenchman knows that the contract he has signed with Botha – through a French agent – has a clause that says the Springbok’s arrival is subject to the lock forward getting clearance from the Bulls.
And that clearance is not forthcoming.
With his ego and reputation now damaged, Boudjellal is trying to save face and it is unlikely his latest outburst will mount to anything.
But the verbal jousting between the egotistic French club owner and the Bulls officials may well continue for a while.
The Bulls have already taken their case to the South African Rugby Union (SARU), who in turn have enlisted the help of the International Rugby Board (IRB) to keep Botha in South Africa.
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Did Botha’s agent advise him to sign or did he do it of his own accord?
Let’s hope SARU / IRB can remove an agent from the “approved” list if it is found that he has advised his players to do things that bring the game into disrepute.
Junne, i found one decent story to post this morning and KSA stole it. 👿
Boksburg – Bakkies Botha acknowledges that he has had “an unbelievable offer” from a French rugby club but he says his “blood is still blue” and first prize will be to remain in South Africa.
This was just about all the Springbok lock forward was willing to say about rumours that he had been negotiating with Toulon when he was quest speaker at a breakfast function here on Wednesday.
Hoi ja….
Hop hop Charlie is op
😳
sorry PJLD
Okay off to Bahrain for the am.
see you guys later
😎 😎 😎
Cheers KSA
😯 GHOSTE SITE 😯
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KSA’s off to see some public beheadings…
How in the world does Boudjellal hope to sue the Bulls for holding a player to his contract unless the Bulls agreed to release him, which they deny.
As far as Bakkies goes, he professes some higher morality and does not appear to be walking his talk. I think a player being sued for breach of contract and feeling it in his pocket may seen out the right message to all the rest of the players AND their agents wanting to play teams off against each other and over stepping the line.
who is bakies botha? is he the bulls muffin baker?
🙂 what is Bakkies anyway?
Tubs?
ja I suppose or bowls……maybe a reference to his hands
Mombakkies. Cause he’s so ugly.
Thanks Rachel…..shame
this whole thing is a bloody joke.
Let him go, Bulls… his heart ain’t in it anymore. Spend his salary somewhere else.
His blood is blue.. 🙄
But for the right price it can be french.
he just misses his pal Big Vic 😉
Let’s hope SARU / IRB can remove an agent from the “approved” list if it is found that he has advised his players to do things that bring the game into disrepute.
06.03.08 07:29:12 – KSA Shark ©
Rumour has it that Bakkies’ agent, one Bernie Habana, is anyway not a registered agent…
yes… I think KSA knew that and just forgot to add the smiley to his post… 😉
Much unhappiness in the Bulls camp is still going to come from this story because they now apparently will have nothing further to do with Bakkies’ agent Bernie, who just happens to be Bryan Habana’s father.
and he’s Wynand’s agent as well… man, they must be pissed off with him for convincing them to sign up that overrated wally for R2M a years for 5 years!