Jaque Fourie has been found to be without a legal and binding contract with the Lions and is now free to sign with Western Province with immediate effect.
The full findings of the arbitration case have not been made public, but a worrying precedent may just have been set, particularly for the Lions, who are believe to have another of other players on the same sort of “contract” as the one which failed to hold Fourie.
Lions supremo Kevin de Klerk is being predictably bullish in the media, claiming that no other players will be allowed to leave, but he is probably pretty powerless to stop further players, inter alia Louis Ludick and Willem Alberts, leaving, should they still choose to.
Both players are believed to have attractive offers on the table from the Sharks, but given the Durban side’s poor semi-final performance and the fact that the popular and inspirational Dick Muir has been confirmed as the new Director of Rugby in Lions land, I wouldn’t be all that surprised if they think long and hard before making the trek down to the East Coast.
More on this as it develops.
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I don’t think Dick Muir is as big of a drawcard for them to stay as is more money, a better lifestyle, at a more family oriented team with a more successful track record and more Springboks… Well, I hope, anyway. Anyone know if either Brad Barritt or BJ Botha are keen to come back to the Sharks?
Very interesting developments indeed and it will be a tense few weeks as we see what else happens in terms of players moving around.
@MerckZ (Comment 1) : Brad was selected for the England Saxons (“A” side) and that is surely a step closer to international rugby, closer than he had in SA so he’s probably not going anywhere.
@MerckZ (Comment 1) : yeah – I’d be very surprised to see Brad back. Unfortunately.
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
He should have stayed imo. I think Divvie would have selected him now that Jean is overseas.
He would also have been first choice 12 at the Sharks!!!
@wpw (Comment 5) : I don’t think Div ever rated Brad.
I dont think this sets too much od a precedent.
Well not a precedent that should concern anybody contracting players that knows what he’s doing.
You simply cannot offer a player a contract with no set remuneration – it’s not legally binding then.
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Well, he did select Brad for the Emerging Boks?? 🙄
Cant say I am surprised, just shows how pathetic the Lions legal team is that this was not picked up, I am sorry to see him go , but he worries me, as I almost think he is to full of his own importance, who is so arrogant as to announce themselves as the best center in the world with the likes of O’Brien around. He did go to Monnas though so I suppose we can forgive him.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 7) :
Hows your leg….feeling any better?
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Did you see him in the Heineken cup the other day, played okay , but then got a shocker of a tackle that saw him leave the field very dazed and battered, would not be surprised if he was concussed.
Wonder if he’ll be more “value for money” at WP than what he was at the lions. 😀
@Whindy (Comment 9) :
Well he has now got the opportunity to be what no other Lion player has been in Cape Town, a success on the rugby field.
Cheers Jaque and thank you for the years you put your body on the line for frankly a losing cause. I wish you all the best over at Province.
Strange how both Fourie and Habana’s wedding coincide with a move to Cape Town , the glitz and glamour of the Cape is difficult to ignore.
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : 🙂 WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR, he says with optimism
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 14) : Its that stupid Mountain
@Whindy (Comment 16) :
I can’t see the appeal ..
@Whindy (Comment 11) : Euro Challenge Cup, wasn’t it?
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 10) :
Hey good thanks Mama. It seems to be on the mend and getting better every day. Still quite swollen and stiff but its headed in the right direction.
Getting soooooooooo tired of marching around in crutches!
@Whindy (Comment 16) :
Dude, that mountain is, like, sh-wow man.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 17) :
Seriously? Have you ever been on the mountain? It’s bloody incredible.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 20) : @VinChainSaw (Comment 21) :
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 17) :
I’m 100% with you there. I can’t stand the place. My missus thinks it Rocks, i think it’s got a big rock as an attraction.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Yes you are right it was Euro Cup,
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) :
You gonna have a few okes on you very soon… 😆
@GI Ice (Now its WAR!) (Comment 25) :
on your case…rather!! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : Betas the shit out of the Paardekraal monument or Krugersdorp hill which is all Fourie has ever looked at
😳 Make that “beats”
@Whindy (Comment 27) :
hey – it MY mountain that..
Still quite swollen and stiff but its headed in the right direction.
😯 😯
@GI Ice (Now its WAR!) (Comment 29) : this discussion feels bit dejavu
@Whindy (Comment 27) : there is a hill in Bruma
and few others in Roodepoort 
@GI Ice (Now its WAR!) (Comment 29) : I hate that hill with a passion used to train on it for Argus and it was a killer, what with all that oxygen around!!
@rekinek (retreat -ing) (Comment 31) :
It does! 😆
@wpw (Comment 30) :
@wpw (Comment 30) : keep it tidy… 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 34) : does not know the meaning of the word!!
@wpw (Comment 30) :
Lol.
@Whindy (Comment 35) : true… 🙂
@Whindy (Comment 35) : @robdylan (Comment 37) :
HEY!!! 😳
@wpw (Comment 38) : I dont think you can scare ICE she will BLIKSEM you, ha-ha
@Whindy (Comment 39) : twice 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Apparently with her once is never enough…(according to previous banter) 😆
@Volstruis (Comment 41) :
Now THAT sounds REALLY bad!! 😯 😕 😉
@Volstruis (Comment 41) :
Yep its true, after all
She is….
once…..
twice…..
three time a lady.
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) :
time = times 😳
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) :
Thanks sammy! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : Hey woah!You blaspheme
@GI Ice (Now its WAR!) (Comment 42) :
@Volstruis (Comment 32) :
With me, once is not enough!!
Comment 33, posted at 16.10.09 14:46:49 by GI Ice (Now its WAR!)
I just qoated your words 😉 …and when Rob throwed twice in there I just could’nt resist 😛 sorry!!
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) : I’m sure she is
@Volstruis (Comment 47) :
Its not What you said its HOW it was said…phrasing of the sentence..it could make a huge difference to the meaning sometimes! 😉
hey – no sweat! I am COOL as Ice, remember! 😎
BTW – That comment I think refered to me being blonde and needed to be told something more than once.. 😆