|
R6m decision for Matfield
22/04/2008 22:07 - (SA)
Morris Gilbert , Beeld
Pretoria - Money - and an amount of R6 million per year has been mentioned - will have the final say when Springbok superstar Victor Matfield decides on his rugby future on Friday.
And it is highly unlikely that the Blue Bulls will lead the stampede for his services.
Matfield confirmed on Tuesday that he was considering offers from French club Toulon, where he has been playing, and from the UK.
His contract with Toulon expires at the end of June and South African administrators and fans are hoping to see him back in Pretoria to play for the Bulls and the Springboks.
"I've never made a secret of it that my heart is in Pretoria and with the Bulls," he said from Toulon, "but I cannot allow emotions to influence my career decisions.
"I have to provide for my family for a life after rugby. Therefore, any decision about where and for whom I play next will be purely related to the future. I'll think with my head, not my heart.
"My first choice is to play for the Bulls again, but I am certainly considering other offers; from Toulon and also from the UK," the 30-year-old lock forward said.
Asked whether one of the British offers may be from Premier League club Northampton Saints, he merely said he would decide about his future on Friday.
R6m contract
It was reported in England on Tuesday that Northampton was on the point of entering into a contract with Matfield and that it could be worth R6m a year to him.
The Blue Bulls Company won't be able to offer anywhere near that amount. Matfield was unwilling to confirm it but it has been learnt that the offer from the Blue Bulls does not even come to R2m.
Blue Bulls chief executive Barend van Graan said last week that even unions with the financial resources of the Bulls were fighting a losing battle against the British pound and the euro.
Suggestions that private companies could be approached to help make a more market-related offer to Matfield seem to have floundered.
Matfield realises his Springbok future may be prejudiced if he continues playing abroad.
The matter of team selections had not come up during recent discussions between him and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, he said.
"I take it that he will give preference to local players but it remains my dream to finish my rugby career by playing in the Test series against the (British and Irish) Lions next year."
SA Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins says De Villiers is free to consider players who are turning out for overseas clubs.
"I gave the assurance during my meeting with the SA Rugby Players' Association that there will be no limit to the number of overseas-based players in the Springbok team.
It depends entirely on the national coach whether he wants to make use of those players and how many he wants. He may select them if he feels he cannot get what he needs locally," Hoskins said.
|
Rugby
