Habana's overseas move halted?

2008-06-29 22:04

Johannesburg - Bakkies Botha's failure in the labour court to win the case against his employers, the Blue Bulls has also scuppered a possible move to English club Saracens for Springbok winger Bryan Habana, a newspaper has claimed.

The labour court gave the order against Botha's application to be released from his contract from the Bulls with costs on Friday, and Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag reported that this has also stopped a possible move by Habana to Saracens.

The newspaper claims the deal had been discussed earlier this week, but the court's decision has meant that Habana, whose contract is virtually word for word the same as Botha's also has an iron-clad deal with the Bulls.

The possibility of a deal, which would see Habana link up with former Springbok technical advisor Eddie Jones, has been disputed by both Saracens and Habana's father Bernie.

"I know nothing about it," Saracens CEO Mark Sinderbery told Sondag while Habana called it "absolute rubbish".

"I don't know where you came by that but Saracens have never approached Bryan. Ask Eddie Jones if you want," Habana senior told the newspaper.

The newspaper also reports that the court case will cost Habana Sr - who agreed to foot the costs for the case - just under R1m.

- SAPA