The Sharks have confirmed, via their website, that JP Pietersen will be excused from Currie Cup duties in order to take up a playing contract in Japan after the Super Rugby season.
While stopping short of announcing a fresh Sharks contract extension to go with the Japanese move, Pietersen apparently “remains committed to the Sharks and the Springboks” and said that his Japanese gig would not interfere with his duties to either side.
That contradicts what his agent said earlier; we were under the impression that Pietersen would not be available for the Rugby Championship this year.
So going on what we know for sure, we won’t see JP this Currie Cup (not that we would have anyway if he’d been with the Boks). We’ll wait and see what happens in 2014.
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and then next year he will under perform like hoff.
Sorry to say but I don’t think it’s a good move. Not one of these “Japan specials” is ever the same in super rugby.
@JD (Comment 2) : I reckon finacially speaking, it’s a good move. 🙂
If i was a professional rugby player this would be a no-brainer for me.
Yeah you dont get to play Bok rugby, but at least you’re spared the boredom and never-ending physical toll on the body that Super Rugby entails.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 4) : But he will be available for Super Rugby but not for Currie Cup.
@Salmonoid (Comment 5) :
Thats a shame.
@McLovin maybe it’s a good move money wise for the player but not for the Sharks and Bokke. If you wanna play for the mighty Yen do it full time like Fourie and forget Sharks and Bok rugby, leave that to the guys staying and playing in Currie cup.
To me it’s a pity but now offer a gap for younger players to be blooded for S15. If more of the older guys want to spend CC season in Japan and only come back for S15 then we have the opportunity of bringing thru more talent. Might make some of the older players wake up and smell the roses.
@JD (Comment 2) : @pete69 (Comment 1) : I hope you don’t buy into Plum’s propaganda. None of those players come back in worse condition. Kanko was the one loosie that played intelligent rugga – hit rucks, scrambled defense, ran at the gaps and offloaded, and he is our top try scorer (yeah yeah, I know). Form had nothing to do with Kanko’s axing.