As more and more South African players look for a softer, yet far better-paid, option as a counter to Super Rugby, it appears that Sharks winger JP Pietersen will be the next to negotiate a split deal, involving both the Sharks and an as-yet-unnamed Japanese club.
According to reports on the French L’Equipe website, later confirmed in a tweet from Pietersen’s agent, James Adams, the player is in negotiations with both the Japanese club and the Sharks, in order to thrash out a deal. That will involve a two-year gig in Japan, with Pietersen able to return to the Sharks for Super Rugby, similar to the way players such as Ryan Kankowski, Wynand Olivier, Peter Grant and so on do.
An extension of his current Sharks deal is also being negotiated, although a release from Currie Cup duties would, we assume, be a pre-requisite from Pietersen’s point of view.
Adams has confirmed that, should the deal in Japan be concluded, JP would not be available to play for the Springboks in the 2013 Rugby Championship, but would be free to participate in the incoming and end-of-year tour series if selected.
Tweet
He would only be available for the Boks again in 2015 – with the hope of making the world cup squad.
Well that’s him out the Super squad with fitness work just like Kanko and Steyn.
Great move 🙂
The guys are playing way to much rugby and this c£€p of the players to go play in Japan is making things worse as they now have no break to rest. If you want to go play for the mighty yen then go and stay there like Fourie. If you want to play super rugby then you need to stay in SA.
the goose is dead. No more golden eggs.
Players are not stupid…. they know that you can’t play more than a season of this extended Super Rugby-Rugby Championship crap without limiting your career seriously.
I reckon nobody will make more than 5 years of that combination, factoring in a year out with injury somewhere along the line.
Good decision JP…. won’t be long before players are turning their back on SR as well.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : I tend to go with what you are saying and its pretty obvious that New Zealand players are seeing it the exact same way.
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
We are milking these guys to the point that the business ethics is questionable.
Probably my favourite all-time Shark, but I can understand his reasoning. He will be sorely missed.
@Big Fish (Comment 7) : We (Sharks hat) shouldnt be missing him, unless he comes back in Kankos form. Its us (Boks hat) that will miss out on his services.
@Big Fish (Comment 7) : I’m pretty negative this morning and I guess the reasons are obvious.
Still, can’t help the feeling that this game we love is inexorably screwed and getting worse every year.
I can’t think when last I watched a game and actually enjoyed the experience, rather than being worried about the result and the injuries that would inevitably happen…
It is disturbing how easily players write off the opportunity to play for the Boks in exchange for $$$. One can accept where players are near the end of their careers and looking for pensions but we are now losing young players.
I agree, look at Richard Kahui, he was injury prone before this bloody comp became, imagine how bad it is now. Japanese seasons are short and they make more money, I think it’s sensible to look after your body and still make a lot of money as opposed to this being over-worked and underpaid nonsense in Super Rugby and people wonder I take school rugby over Super Rugby any day
@robdylan (Comment 9) : You know, I used to never miss a game. In the pre-PVR days I would record it, and get someone else to do the same, just in case. In the Super-12 days I even slipped away from work to watch Friday morning games (my boss must have marvelled at the number of times my geyser burst…).
By contrast, this year I have watched one game, and that was really only because I had nothing better to do.
I can tell you I am a *much* happier person now that I only check the scores, read the match reports and occasionally watch the highlights’ packages.
Sad but true.
@Culling Song (Comment 12) : I have to agree with that.
@JD (Comment 4) : They play far less rugby in Japan, so they rest all the time. The intensity is also much lower, so their bodies don’t get battered all the time.
@Culling Song (Comment 12) : Yep, especially when that one game is the Rebels game. Then you would be happy! Haha!