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Rassie has a Lion by the tail
08/08/2007 22:02 - (SA)
Hennie Brandt and De Jongh Borchardt , Beeld
Johannesburg - Golden Lions rugby administrators are furious at Rassie Erasmus. They say the new Western Province senior coach has been trying, without consulting them, to obtain the services of tighthead prop Brian Mujati.
"We have a problem with Erasmus talking to Mujati behind our backs," Golden Lions Rugby Union president Jannie Ferreira said on Wednesday.
"We have already made contact with Johan Prinsloo (chief executive of the SA Rugby Union) because Erasmus is personally negotiating with Mujati."
The Lions will do everything possible to retain the front ranker's services, even though his agent feels there are loopholes that could enable him to get out of his contract with the union. The contract expires at the end of 2008.
The row comes shortly after reports that Cheetahs prop Jannie du Plessis has decided not to move to Cape Town but to join the Sharks in Durban.
Major loss
It was a matter of blood being thicker than water when the Springbok signed for the Sharks. His brother, Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis, is already a member of the Sharks front row.
Jannie will move to the coast after this year's Currie Cup season. The Sharks will need him because they are losing Springbok captain John Smit, who will start playing in France after the World Cup tournament.
This major loss, as well as a lack of depth among the prop forwards, motivated the Sharks to sign the other Du Plessis as well.
The union's contract with Springbok prop BJ Botha, who can be employed at hooker in an emergency, expires at the end of next season.
There is great interest in Botha in the northern hemisphere, particularly among clubs in France, where good tighthead props are treated as if they were rock stars.
Hendrik Cronje reports from Bloemfontein that Springbok flank Juan Smith won't be leaving the Cheetahs to join the Sharks.
Smith and Springbok prop CJ van der Linde, who has been considering offers from French clubs, will remain with the Free State side until at least the end of next year.
- Beeld
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