Morris Gilbert writes for News 24
Pretoria – Bakkies Botha and the Blue Bulls Company face legal action from the Toulon rugby club if the Springbok lock forward does not report for duty in France on April 1.
And that is no April Fool’s joke.
Botha may insist that his blood is blue, but Toulon’s foolhardiness ensures that his return to Super 14 rugby will take place under a cloud of controversy at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.
A week after club officials strongly denied that any negotiations had been conducted with Botha, saying “he has never been one of our players and never will be,” Toulon’s president, Mourad Boudjellal, is singing a different tune.
Boudjellal said on Thursday that Botha had indeed signed a contract and was obliged to report to the club on April 1.
He added that Toulon would take legal action against Botha and the Blue Bulls if the player did not fulfil his contractual obligations.
If it proves to be true that Botha has signed a contract with the French club, he and his agent, Bernie Habana, have a lot to explain.
Extended his Springbok contract
The Blue Bulls have not put a foot wrong in the drawn-out saga.
They could take legal action against Toulon for persisting in negotiations with Botha despite the fact that his contract with the Pretoria franchise runs until the end of 2011. Botha has also extended his Springbok contract by another three years.
Now the big forward finds himself between two fires. He could be handed a sizeable fine if it is found that he signed with Toulon while still in the employ of the Blue Bulls.
Habana’s role in the affair is also likely to be scrutinised.
Lani-Marie Pretorius, an expert in contract law, said on Thursday Toulon would be able to take steps against Botha if he did sign a contract with the club.
“If he fails to report to the club on April 1 he could be summonsed for breach of contract. One has to accept that both parties agreed to the contract in good faith.”
It may be ethically unacceptable but one may enter into contracts with several parties as long as you are willing to face the legal consequences, she said.
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Hate to say it, but I agree that the Bulls are the only party who seem to be acting with integrity here
I was under the impression his contract was subject to securing a release from the Bulls – which was denied. end of story.
i blame joost.
i blame apartheid
Aren’t they the same thing 😀
No Sauce, at least Apartheid gave us Coloured people.
What has Joost ever done? 😉
Taken Amor out of circulation
Dont know about you Rob, but I would… 😳
Sis, Fish. Horny is one thing, but you can’t let your standards go. What next, Patricia Lewis?
Again, dont know about you, but I would. 😳
She wouldn’t be allowed to sing or anything though.
She is not to blame for being from Tshwane…
sorry… looks ain’t everything.
Thats clearly something that your wife holds to as well. 😆
Its been a fun morning – soon to be a crazy afternoon for me Im afraid.
We must catch up this weekend dood.
Time to watch some Scrubs.
defo
Illustrated the intelligence of the entire Tshwane area by handing a trophy to the wrong captain in front of an international audience.
Oh sheeeet, i forgot about that blunder.
Damn, thats bad
What about the time he got wobbed cos he ran out of gas…
Or when he said the Stormers had beaten the Bulls C team…
Great player – but not an intellectual by any stretch of the imagination.
he’s the sort of guy that gives other plonkers a bad name
Ag please man.
I come here to get away from Joost.
And I still can’t get a pic next to my name.
Hard being an IT ignoramus.
dawn mail me to provincejoulekkading[at]sharksworld.co.za
Ashfak Mohamed is my new hero (JJ ain’t gonna like that one!)
“Joost goes offside
That Bulls icon Joost van der Westhuizen needs some serious talking to, whether it is from the rugby fraternity or his bosses at SuperSport. His condemnation of Bulls wing Danwel Demas’s knock-on of a potential try-scoring (but below the knee) pass from Fourie du Preez was uncalled for. Joost said if he was Bulls coach, Demas wouldn’t play Super 14 rugby again this season because it would mean that the union would lose income as the team would lose and that other players’ futures would be affected. I wonder what Joost says when Wynand Olivier passes the ball into touch.”
Gatiep was bragging to his boss one day, “You know, I know everyone there is to know.
Just name someone, anyone, and I know them”
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, “OK, Gatiepie, how about Tom Cruise?”
Gatiep replied “Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it.”
So Gatiep and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise’s door and Tom Cruise shouts, ” Gatiepie! What’s happenin?!? Great to see
you!
Come on in for a beer!
Although impressed, Gatiep`s boss is still skeptical.
After they leave Cruise’s house, he tells Gatiep that he thinks him knowing Cruise was just lucky.
“No, no, just name anyone else,” Gatiep says. “President Bush,” his boss quickly retorts. “Yup,” Gatiep says, “Old buddies, let’s fly out to Washington .”
And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Gatiep on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, ” Gatiepie, what a surprise, I
was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch up.”
Well, the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds he expresses his doubts to Gatiep,
who again implores him to name anyone else.
“The Pope,” his boss replies. “Sure!” says Gatiep. “My folks are from Poland , and I’ve known the Pope a long time.”
So off they fly to Rome . Gatiepie and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Gatiep says, “This will never work. I
can’t catch the Pope’s eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I’ll come out on the
balcony with the Pope.”
And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican . Sure enough, half an hour later Gatiep emerges with the Pope on the
balcony but by the time Gatiep returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.
Working his way to his boss’ side, Gatiep asks him, “What happened?”
His boss looks up and says, “I was doing fine until you and the Pope
came out on the balcony and the man next to me said:
“Who the [email protected] is that on the balcony with Gatiepie?
Hey Weasel!
You found your grandfather’s joke-book? 😈
My grandfather’s dead BF.
😳
07.03.08 10:54:12 – robdylan
THAT was when I changed the channel
Dont try to make me feel bad for nothing – I didnt make fun of him at all – I just asked if you found his joke-book. 🙄
Where have you been lately?
How is Ilse?
She’s fine… 25 weeks already…
Wow!
Im glad that things are going smoothly.
Best get lost of sleep now – you will be without for a looong time soon.
wpw @ 07.03.08 11:02:55
So is the Pope from Poland.
JP2 was,new dude is German
Gatiepski
Ai tog
More baby talk.
Dive Pass … let’s go get a beer.
did everyone go take a siesta or what?
SIESTAAAA
NAP time 😎
😳 sorry meant SNOOZE time
07.03.08 13:36:18 – Salmonoid
No! From Popeland
Stan 😆
Hang on, is this the “real Stan (c)”?
on a Sharks blog?
What is the world coming to….?
Had me for a second too Quinny, but think about it, Stan on an English/ Sharks blog.Nooot going to happen guy.
Quinny NOPE it is not no fear.
Stan has achieved blogging notoriety!
Hey Stan!!!!!!!!
Wat maak jy hier, nou die aand op Dinkskrum het jy ons almal vertel jy sal nooit hier blog nie. 👿
Ja Provincejoukakading, julle wetters praat lekker kak van Bakkies en die bulle. Julle is mos sterk agter julle rekenaars.
Friends… let’s be the bigger men this side, ok?
Stan and his pals are quite happy to leave us be here. Let’s not attract them, shall we?
BTW, this is an official “ATTENTION ALL USERS” post, just in case you haven’t realized it.
you got an invite to dinksrum KSA 😯 😯
why don’t you okes all rather go listen to the lovely podcast I just spent the last 48 hours putting together for you? 😉
Am listening to the podcast now.
Cool Rob