Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis, according to morning reports, will leave the Sharks at the end of the current Super Rugby season to ply their trade in France.
That’s about as much clarity as there is at the moment, however. According to The Mercury, who have managed to wheedle some sort of statement out of agent Gerrie Swart, the brothers are contractually obliged to join Montpellier (or else risk forfeiting a Million Rand each in deposits) but appear to be looking for some sort of loophole that will allow them to play elsewhere in France.
We can now, seemingly, confirm the assumption we made earlier in the year that the pair had agreed to move to the Southern French city before old nemesis Jake White was appointed head coach there. Reading between the lines, Swart’s plan will now be find another French side with deep enough pockets to both meet the salary demands and also pick up lost deposit costs.
“The move will be out of South Africa,” Swart told Mike Greenaway, adding “a move to another South African franchise has never been a consideration. In all likelihood the destination will be Montpellier (it is the only party with whom I have had discussions ) but paper work has not been fully attended to.”
The Sharks will, I’m told, issue a statement shortly, but it does now look like we can finally confirm that the names of Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis and Willem Alberts will not feature on a Sharks team sheet once Super Rugby finishes for 2015.
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Pretty sure jannie will kill jake if he has to play under him again! Hope they figure something out.
Amazing. All the controversy.
@Dragnipur (Comment 1) : or he could kill Jake. That’s one way to figure it out.
Well the brothers Doep could always pay the deposit back themselves and accept the offers that the Sharks, with SARU, have made them.
What a mess – its actually very funny lol
More twists and turns than a F1 track.. geez. Either way, it is still a big loss for us. But on the other side, it will give the young guns a change to prove themselves. Tommy Tank, Kyle, Franco, Monde.. now is your chance!
Isn’t there a statutory time frame in which transfers etc can be negotiated 1 July. Did these people act outside of that time frame? Dodgy and underhanded deals?
If they are trying so hard to get out of this deal I’m sure Jake will oblige. Why would you want unwilling players to play for you. Personally I think their leaving might be good for sharks future. Now how about speaking to Redelinghuis or Herbst or Dreyer to come in for Jannie. Bissie will be harder to replace but Marais will now get his shot also maybe Craig burden can be approached?
Who would you guys like to see step up or be brought in for Bismarck? Surely there is budget if the awesome final offer can be believed?
@Another Nick (Comment 6) : don’t know about cooper. Marais yes, but we may need to buy a second.
@coolfusion (Comment 10) : Coops is just in a bit of a slump, but he will come good. He has a strong leg-drive and good body posture to poach balls at the breakdown. I am more concerned about a replacement for Jannie..
Zibbie offhand comment about coetzee now starting to make some sense. Maybe there is an offer out for him to come in for bissie?
@Another Nick (Comment 11) : Tommy the tank could be that guy. Or get julian Redelinghuis back.
Either way the management is now forced to consider options which is great for growth. I think they may already have been scouting beginning of year already. Let’s hope it’s not another pensioner…
No worries we recently bought a guy named Matt Stevens. ..he can help us..oh wait…that was a useless purchase and his pay plus Jannie ex salary could actually have bought us a great player. Ag shame…too bad our management cannot plan ahead
@coolfusion (Comment 8) : I’m sure Jake would oblige but it’s not up to him. The club paid the deposits on the two players and I can’t simply imagine that they’d write off those costs.
Anyway, would be really sad to see the two go but it means a few opportunities open for some other players.
It seems that they really don’t want to play under White and they were not mentioned under players signed to Montpellier with the 11 others Jake signed, so I think they are still looking at ways of getting out.
Also seems like the only other offer currently on the table, is one where they stay with the Sharks… any other offer, their manager is still shopping around for.
I would like Kyle Cooper to be the man to step up. I think there’s a lot of rust, or is that splinters, waiting behind Bissie for any game time, but he looked the real deal a few seasons ago.
He just needs some motivation and I think Bissie leaving will be the perfect start for that.
@Letgo (Comment 18) : And Jannie leaving will give Thomas the tank a chance? I really think he will be great if he gets the support and training. I also say their leaving may be a good thing. We have too many crutches and that’s why so little development. Even in low risk scenarios like the remainder of super rugby we would still rather lean on a crutch than take a risk and grow potential.
I find it a little funny that news of the DUP bros leaving has some people throwing out names of guys we can bring in? What about all the youthful talent we have at the union that should have been playing instead of these old guys all along? Or so im told. Why do we need to bring in anyone
@coolfusion (Comment 7) : I don’t understand a thing about this time frame window thing!!! 😯
Blessing in disguise !!! In years to come with hindsight many will realise these two boeties caused more harm than gain for the Sharks !!!
I have never been a fan of the terrible tantrum two !!!
@The Brand (Comment 22) :
That’s a ridiculous thing to say of two players that played more 100 SR games for their union. Absolutely disrespectful if you ask me.
Bismarck and Jannie has been a massive part of Sharks rugby over the last 10 years and have given their all for the union, their best years for the Sharks. In a changing profession where loyalty has become a rarity it has always been admirable for me that some players can still show their loyalty to the team.
What harm did they cause the Sharks. Your personal feelings towards them has clouded your judgement and I rather think very soon, not in years to come, every Sharks supporter will realise just how valuable they have been to this team (same goes for any other Sharks player about to retire or take an offshore contract, who have played that many games for us).
@Letgo (Comment 24) :
I think many players will be turn off signing for a team, if they saw the comments made by fans about veterans leaving that team, after more than 10 years of duty.
I think it is time for these guys to move on, for them and for the Sharks, but wish them well and am grateful for the years they gave to the Sharks.
@The Brand (Comment 22) : That may be, but I believe that we will also realize just how good a player Bissie was!
@Letgo (Comment 24) : I think he’s referring to the constant allegations/rumours that the Dup brothers have undue influence at the Sharks and that they possibly undermine past/existing coaches and/or management. Should that prove to be the case it is however more of an indictment on the union for failing to reign in senior players than on the brothers themselves. Strong personalities will always look to push the boundaries.
@Letgo (Comment 25) : If players don’t sign for a team based on fan comments, the union is ultimately better off without them.
I am really surprised at the treatment some of our players have been getting from the supporters, lately. Maybe it’s a backlash from the season we’ve had, but it’s uncalled for.
*sigh*
@vanmartin (Comment 27) :
Any allegations of this type have been so vague and far fetched that believing it just further confirms that, that personal feelings are affecting that persons judgement.
We don’t know these things and don’t know these guys on a personal level.
I just know Jannie and especially Bissie would have been able to play for any team they wanted to for at least 8 of the 10 years they have given to the Sharks. For the longest time it was undisputed that Bismarck is the best hooker in the world and still now you hear commentators of other countries saying that they feel that he is one of the best hookers ever. Yet our fans say good riddance???
I’m sorry, that’s disrespectful.
@vanmartin (Comment 28) :
I just find it surprising that this is how anyone could feel about a player that spent his entire career with our team. Since he was a junior player.
@Letgo (Comment 32) :
I’m just tired of hearing all the negative comments about Sharks players.
Wish we could all just live by – if you don’t have anything good to say ….
But then what will happen to the blog.
@coolfusion (Comment 7) : that law is only relevant to SA . but saying that , SA teams dont really adhere to it so yea
The Brand is a Bok supporter, not a Sharks fan / supporter, or any other SA team. He said it himself last week.
@Letgo (Comment 31) : Our fans? Letgo, a small minority on Sharksworld have voiced that opinion. You’re generalising.
@Letgo (Comment 32) : Because basing a decision to move to a union on the opinion of some a few people that may support another team at the drop of a hat, points to some bigger problems and probably means the player’s confidence will easily be shaken. Athletes in any sporting code will be criticized (and for the most part, unfairly), it comes with the territory.
Letgo, you’re getting offended on behalf of the Dup brothers because of something one or two people said about them on the internet. Not worth it in my opinion.
@vanmartin (Comment 36) :
I changed my comments just after posting them.
Got myself worker up to much and you weren’t even the one who said it.
Sorry.
@Letgo (Comment 33) : Letgo, you keep editing your comments. Difficult to preserve context and have a meaningful discussion when you do that.
@Letgo (Comment 37) : Fair enough. Hope you’re feeling better. I guess sometimes we just need to vent 😉 😀
@vanmartin (Comment 36) :
I’m actually just a bit sad that many of these “old guys” would soon leave us and while I know it’s time and will be good for Sharks rugby (in fact some are maybe even overdue), I will definitely miss these guys playing for us.
I felt the same when Andrews, Joubert, Teichman left and even just mentioning makes me nostalgic.
Like I said … for me, end of an era. And I’m feeling quite emotional about it – not just sad, excited too. It’s a chance for us to start rebuilding. We need this change.
@coolfusion (Comment 12) :
i still think you should back your own talent . or get in younger players . but thats just me
@vanmartin (Comment 38) :
I really don’t think any of my contributions would have been meaningful had I continued in the context that I did. 🙂
I was trying to change it quick enough that no one comments, but you were to fast…
I was venting a little, but realised I didn’t want to waist my energy anymore.
@vanmartin (Comment 39) :
Btw, you’re right. Makes no sense to say other players won’t sign. Especially based on the comments or opinion of a small group of people. That person would have to be mentality unstable to make a big decision like that based on what Sharksworld think…
….maybe I just want to believe that we, as a “community” have a bigger influence than we ever would. 😉
Remember – We love you Marcell and PSDT!!!! 😆
@Zibbie (Comment 41) : I would agree most of the time but the management obviously favourite both approaches, build and buy. Just the buying side seems to have been without any real strategy and the building side has gotten very little attention. Also I can see us building replacements for these two but not depth. There may yet be a requirement for some clever buying of transitional phase players. Problem is when they buy great talent at a cost they try milk it as much as possible at the cost of the young player waiting in line for his shot.
Bismarck will be missed – regardless of all his red mist moments, he is a one in a lifetime player. Likewise Jannie – probably more due to the lack of other quality tightheads that can actually hold up the scrum.
I reckon John needs to take a break from CEO duties, and actually spend a couple of days with our other Sharks hookers to teach them how to throw in properly. That is my biggest gripe with the current lot.
Craig Burden as dynamic a player as he is, was just as bad. However a short time at Toulon and his lineouts have improved beyond recognition.
@Letgo (Comment 43) : I think what does carry some significance and weight is when Rob compiles our well wishes or congratulations and passes them on to a player or team. As a community, we probably do make a difference during those times.
I don’t think however that Gold browses the comments in search of gameplans otherwise JPP would have been switched back to wing ages ago
I can only second that last line.
@vanmartin (Comment 46) :
How bout we start compiling our consensus on gameplan and player selection and send it to the coaching staff, since clearly they are not smart enough to browse through our astute observations.
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : Now there is a great idea. Maybe he can delegate the procurement of talent to someone who knows how. Maybe even a consultant. Then get to tutoring and coaching the hookers. It may even build an affinity for the young guys and help push them to the top of his agenda. A guy like John must miss the action by now…?
Im still gutted to see them walk away….I knew it would come but….aggg ja!
Too often we forget the good seasons where these boys did put their bodies on the line game after game to push the team to the top. So now I think we shouldn’t begrudge them a retirement plan. It a shame they had to choose such a kak season to make their move, else I think there would be less harsh comments. Personally I still think it will be a while before we sharks or even SA get a hooker of Bismarck caliber. Janie did some good work too but I do think there are some contemporaries that will rival him and even surpass him. The exciting news is that we now get to see the next spring bokkie hooker in the making rise to the top. For if we don’t give this country a decent front pack who will?
Bulls lost. So already a positive for me. Sad to see the bulls lose but happy to have their fans shut up for yet another week.
@coolfusion (Comment 51) : Sad to see the Bulls lose? I am definitely not. 😈
@Ben (Comment 52) : I’m sad that they managed to walk away with a losing bonus point.
Jeez this sucks…
I knew the time would come, but man I was hoping SO BAD that the time for them to leave would’ve been after WINNING the SR trophy.
They deserve it.
@The Brand (Comment 22) : @The Brand (Comment 23) : Your negative comments about two of the best players in the world is uncalled for mate….. Rather show them the respect and decency they deserve after playing rugby (yes, dangerous contact sport) for your Union, Franchise and Club.
Yes look I totally get the sadness. These two are immense players and individuals.
But you know what, no player is larger than the team. No player should be able to dictate to the coach or who should be the coach. Maybe, just maybe, having such egos leave will be the spark needed for the wound to be lanced and the pus to pour out. Because, let’s all face it and be honest enough to admit it, not everything is right with the make-up of the team. I’ve said before – the mix of individuals is not right. There are too many individuals. Too many Kevin Pietersens in the team…
And before Letgo explodes again, what I’ve said does not detract from each of the brother’s individual playing abilities which are exceptional. 🙂
Just not as sad at these departures as I may once have been. I think it opens up the perfect opportunity for the Sharks to develop a new team capable of winning trophies.
@Feather (Comment 55) : Agree, all for developing talent. And looking forward to it…
BUT, please let it be local talent coming through our system! back our boys
I sincerely hope and wish the Sharks would develop and show faith in some of the younger guys.
Sadly i think Johnny will parachute in a buy. Probably 30+.