Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant has turned down a R10m offer from a Japanese rugby club – because the Springbok emblem and the Western Province disa mean so much to him and because he loves braaivleis.
“It proves there are still players who regard the Springbok emblem and the disa as more important than money,” Grant’s agent, Chris de Beer, said on Thursday.
Stephen Nell reports in Die Burger that Grant, who was in the Springbok squad for the first Test against Wales last week, has been omitted for this week’s Test in Pretoria.
His contract with WP expires only at the end of the 2009 season. However, a Japanese club wanted to sign him on now to start playing for them on November 1 next year.
The name of the club is known to Die Burger but the newspaper has been requested not to publish it.
According to information obtained this week, Grant would have earned R3m during his first year at the club. In his second year, he would have earned R3.4m and in the third year R3.6m.
The club would also have paid for his flights whenever he was needed to play for South Africa.
“From a financial point of view, Peter would have never looked back,” De Beer said. “It would have been one of the top contracts in world rugby.
“And he would have been paid extra whenever he played for the Springboks.
“Peter’s words to me, when he said he’d rather stay here, were, “With whom will I braai on Saturday nights”.
“He loves WP and it means a lot to him to be involved with the Springboks,” De Beer said.
The 23-year-old Grant was in outstanding form during the Stormers’ Super 14 campaign, which led to his inclusion in the national squad.
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must be waiting for the call from Dbn. 🙄
Disa my ass
Japan is a career dead-end – doesn’t take a martyr for a 23-old Bok to turn ’em down.
Lets not buy the brass for the statue just yet.
Rob – this is a family site – I would rather you took those requests off-line. 😈
@Big Fish (Comment 4) : tease 🙂
I can just see Poskantoor Donkey logging on and bitching about Sharks bias tomorrow morning.
He will probably use big words like “therefore” and “typical”.
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : and we can use big nouns like “tank”
@robdylan (Comment 7) : 😈
@Big Fish (Comment 4) :
Hehehhee
this place would be dull without the Eddie-lovin’ Tank.
We LOVE you Wes!
True that.
He really is larger than life…
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : larger than most things, whether man-made or no
Aaah, I shoulda known that ole Rob would know what I was thinking.
Yu must be sent on a mission from Glod Rob.
I’m quickly gonna hit Google Earth and see if wpw is sleeping. 😈
There is gonna be hell to pay tomorrow…
@Big Fish (Comment 13) : he has to catch us first 😉
Did you know that hippos are surprisingly quick?
Fascinating creatures really.
Some mean people on this site… I can likes it… 😆
F#k Julle!
Ek Loop Nou!!! 👿
Who would want to go to Japan just after being picked for the Boks…and with so many years left in their career?
@blackshark (Comment 18) : He can still play for the Boks with travel costs being paid by the club on top of the wages…
So if you play for a foreign team and the Boks select you, you have to buy your own plane ticket to SA? 😯 Surely not?
When the ministers(clowns)start messing with the team selections Japans going to look like rugby paradise.
billy
Are you new to this site???
@billy (Comment 21) : Let’s leave the politics out of it, ok? Thanks
Considering that the Japanese are willing to look after his international career I can only presume its really the Disa thats keeping him here. 😉
Or it could be his agent just reminding the WPRU that his clients now hot property and that new contracts must reflect that.
@Salmonoid (Comment 24) : Where’s uncle Rudi when you need him?
I’ve never been completely convinced by Grant, and the Sharks need to concentrate on developing Frans at 10,in line with his ambitions.
So I’d rather that Grant carried on playing for the Village People XV thank you very much.
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
According to some, propbably reading Genghis Khans classic “Divide and Rule in 10 easy steps”
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 19) : I don’t think PdV would rate him as highly if he was kicking up and unders Japan. His Bok selection is based on strong performances vs strong opposition.
Grant is a more consistent player than Steyn.
@Salmonoid (Comment 27) : you think he can read? 😉
@wpw (Comment 29) : Just keep pushing… 👿
Die waarheid maak seer né blackshark? 🙄
WPW,
Are you also a cricket man. Whats up with WP cricket, I heard that Kallis, Boucher and another have left the Cape franchise for the Eastern Cape. Not that they ever play for their franchise but the impression is that all is not well at Newlands.
Thats true. Ashwell Prince also left with them.
They are unhappy at not being selected for the Cobras in the T20 semi against the Titans.
Boucher didn’t even play 1 game for the Cobras but i bet he was receiving a monthly salary from them.
@blackshark (Comment 28) :
Just repeating what was in the article…
..and Cape Town probably has a bigger gay community too. 😳
Who’s Fransie Steyn ❓ 😈
@Charlie (Comment 37) : the world’s quickest blindside flank
Apologies,
Anyhow, leaving politics behind, Grants made a big impression of loyalty to the Boks. Hope he gets rewarded for it, theres no doubting he’s got oodles of skill.
@wpw (Comment 32) : the truth is in the eye of the gun-holder…
sneaky edit there….
1. Did Peter really say: “With WHOM will I braai on Saturday nights”?
2. Disas???? Yeah right I’m sure the KZN boy grew up dreaming of playing rugby with a bloody pansies subsitute on his rugby jersey….
Have a great weekend.
@Charlie (Comment 37) : Hey Charlie..didn’t Abie do great on Saturday..or what 😀