Butch: I’m open to coming home

Butch: I’m open to coming home

29 Jan 2008

Butch James would consider returning to South Africa if he felt he had a crack at being in the Springbok mix.

Despite his assertions to the contrary it is believed Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will meet with European-based World Cup winning Springboks to talk about the possibility of returning to play in South Africa. De Villiers departs on February 8 to Europe.

James, the Springbok World Cup winning flyhalf, is currently in the early stages of a two-year deal with English Premiership club Bath. His form has been superb and has been central to their push for league honours.

James said he was “loving” his time at Bath, but conceded that an approach from De Villiers could be very appealing if the conditions were right.

“If I knew I had an opportunity to continue my international career for a couple years more I would consider it. I think I’m still good enough and I’d always be open to an approach. So if Peter could assure me of that, it would make it very hard to say no.”

James said the Sharks, for whom he played his entire professional career in South Africa, would be his first choice franchise should he return, but quickly added: “That’s only if they want me back.” The 28-year-old has had a series of knee injuries which have stifled his career, but seems to have moved past that difficult period.

He was last injured on the Springboks’ 2006 year-end tour to England and Ireland, but recovered to play the entire 2007 Super 14 and Tri-Nations (he was rested for the Australasian leg) and was the first choice pivot at the World Cup. But that streak came to an end on Sunday when he dislocated his shoulder in the process of scoring a try against Saracens. Bath looked rudderless without their general and succumbed to two Brent Russell tries, losing 26-20.

“I’m going for a scan tonight but it looks like anything from six to 12 weeks out of the game,” he said. “That’s really frustrating because I think I was playing some of the best rugby of my career.

“If it’s six weeks that’s not so bad because the Six Nations starts this weekend which would mean I wouldn’t miss any [Premiership] games but 12 weeks would be a killer because I want to play a major part in the team’s push for the title.”

Bath are currently placed third, just five points off leaders Gloucester.

By Ryan Vrede


549 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9] 10 11 » Show All

  • 401.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:15 pm

    Ok mense. Got run. Got a plane to catch.

    Laters

  • 402.katman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:15 pm

    Fireman!

  • 403.trupisero...almalsemoerebehalwemyne!!: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:15 pm

    400 and hello

  • 404.Desert Stormer: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:16 pm

    Dawn – Is there a direct flight from Cairo?

  • 405.4man: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:17 pm

    The oldest pub in SA is “The Bathurst” in Bathurst, close to Port Alfred.
    Is the Firemans Arms still going then?

  • 406.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:17 pm

    Actually there’s an equivalent pub in Manenberg called the Firearms.

    Don’t you guys wanna go there?

  • 407.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:17 pm

    Bod
    There is a name for boys like you …

  • 408.Bod: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:17 pm

    Princess

    Despite my rough edges, I am a romantic at heart. Glad to see you picked up on my subtleties…

  • 409.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:17 pm

    #406

    Do we need our passports for that Dawn ?

  • 410.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:17 pm

    pauld
    Happy landings!
    See you out west, next week.

  • 411.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:18 pm

    #402

    katman moenie skree nie.

  • 412.katman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:20 pm

    Fireman!!

  • 413.Desert Stormer: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:20 pm

    Who’s going to win the 6 Nations?

  • 414.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:21 pm

    #413 Italy

  • 415.Desert Stormer: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:22 pm

    Really?

  • 416.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:22 pm

    Firearms anyone?

    Guaranteed to blow you away.

  • 417.Bod: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:22 pm

    Vloerie

    Ja, I got your message, but it was a bit like trying to translate Hyroglyphics (sic). How many doubles have you had today??

    #408

    Pray, tell what Princess?

  • 418.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:24 pm

    Desert Stormer

    We apologise profusely for not discussing rugby at length. We PROMISE to do so ad nauseam from next week.

  • 419.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:26 pm

    (Why is katman shouting Fireman? Should we call the police?)

  • 420.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:26 pm

    4man, Bathurst, sad news, that pub is closed down, three consecutive owners lost the farm there.. dont think its running.

    you need someone to run it as a charity project

  • 421.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:26 pm

    Bod
    About as subtle as an Australian making eyes at his sister …

    You know very well what – Bertie has warned me about your filthy habits !

  • 422.Desert Stormer: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:29 pm

    I’m bored…

    Banana Banana is on a slippery slope

  • 423.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:29 pm

    Dawn
    Oohh … Will firemen be at the lunch ?

  • 424.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:30 pm

    Flight delayed so I’ll be here a tad longer

  • 425.vloervreter: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:30 pm

    Bod,

    I is saying dat wee will aarife at cApe Town Stasie but I can only tune u de exsat detyls wen Cuzzy fhouns me wif dose same detyls, he is playing gholf now, eim wayting for heem to piek up de dem fhoun.

    U understands kleerly now?

  • 426.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:32 pm

    RP #421
    Aussie making eyes at his sister?
    Surely not!

  • 427.katman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:32 pm

    419 – Sweet heavens, woman, do you have no culture? In A League of Gentlemen, Pauline asks the hopeful jobseekers to name all sorts of jobs and poor feebleminded Mickey keeps on shouting Fireman at everything.

  • 428.sondebok: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:33 pm

    405. 4 man, the firemans arms is still going strong. I think the Perseverance Tavern in Buitenkant Str. is the oldest in Cape Town though.

  • 429.shooter: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:34 pm

    419, because other people percieve a greater threat to themselves, when they hear some one shouting Fireman!, as opposed to when they hear Help!, they will basically come and see what is ‘happening’ and thus you can be in greater nr hands/ rescuers when danger strikes.

  • 430.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:35 pm

    pauld
    You blogging from Heathrow?
    Hope you are flying CT direct, and not connecting at OR, Jhb, or you may be without underwear on arrival.

  • 431.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:36 pm

    #430

    Going to New York. Cape Town on 14 Feb. On Valentine’s day. I intend to join the MH Club on the Cape Town flight given that it is Valentines day

  • 432.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:36 pm

    Piet

    Oohh you know it is true – probably accounts for the low national IQ & poor rugger skills … it is also how farmers keep their sons away from the barns late at night :-D

  • 433.shooter: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:38 pm

    430, from 1 Feb Swissport world renowned professionals for lugguage /baggage handling is taking over those duties at the (4- i think) major airports in SA. Which was great news.

  • 434.ruck: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:40 pm

    Hello RP,Pietman and all happy bloggers…I have been working (for a change really really hard – sigh)KUK KUK….So what have u lot spoken about today??

    The Bulls, Luke Watson, the Bluebellies trip to CT on the 16th, Eskom, the rain up north, the wind down south??????? and Bertie…..of course…

  • 435.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:41 pm

    #434 ruck

    actually just pubs in cape town

  • 436.ruck: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:44 pm

    #434 – Spot on….they were awared the new contract….Gud luck to ‘em…cos let me tell you, I fly regularly and I have yet to report a “trip without rummaging through my bags..” – Things are’nt always stolen,,but the bags have been rummaged through…..OR, could be the times I’ve flown in my Stormers jersey…they’re looking for drugs…….sheez, it just hit me…CT/Stormers/Me = TIK…..

  • 437.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:44 pm

    432# RP
    Jeezz, what a business!
    No look, those Aussies are second to none come shaggin’ time.
    Over here is the same, they chase everything in sight with the slightest resemblance of a skirt, even a roll of barbed wire with a red flag attached to it will do.
    And don’t give them beer, oh boy! Then they don’t even mind the abscence of skirts anymore, they would go after dead policemen, I tell you.
    Weird lot.

  • 438.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:44 pm

    #436 Affirmative Shopping

  • 439.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:46 pm

    142

    If Butch has a clause in his contract then it didn’t work for the Wales game after the World Cup.

    Realistically, Butch James is the only international class South African flyhalf.

  • 440.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:49 pm

    ruck 434#
    Mostly about the ‘Travelling Bluebellies’.
    The train is becoming overloaded now, especially the ‘cattle class’.
    But they sound like they are looking forward to it, and some interesting guests coming along too, some you might recognise from previous tests against the British Lions in the 80′s.
    It is going to be good company, I’m sure.

  • 441.ruck: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:50 pm

    #435 – oooh one of my fave topics……..

  • 442.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:52 pm

    Piet

    When I was checking in tonight & a very scruffy late middle aged American (accompanied by a local girl too young to be even his daughter) was asking about the hotels rates … After discovering the nightly rates he asked about “half days rates” … then asked if he could use his “half day rate” 2 hours at atime over a week. EEEEEWWWWWW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 443.ruck: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:53 pm

    #440 – Yes, they said there would be ex-Boks on the train…….the 80′s Lions tour???? mmmmmmm – so they have classy company – I still don’t think it will make up for Cuzzy…../…..Hangbal….hahah – I am actually VERY KEEN to meet Cuzzy……..hahhaa

  • 444.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:53 pm

    433# shooter
    Good news indeed.
    Selebi’s men were robbing us blind at OR.
    Now they just have to do something to protect VIP gusts exiting the airport, and then we are almostback to the good old days.

  • 445.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:53 pm

    I read that Butch in the Telegraph doesn’t like being called Butch

  • 446.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:53 pm

    Ruck

    Ig’s farewell jol/drinks.etc

    Where: The Firemans Arms in Cape Town
    When: Friday 1st Feb
    Time: From 1pm onwards.

    Who wants to come? Even for one drink.
    Come on all you WP folk and Katman and any other Lions, Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs supporters…pull in.

  • 447.pauld: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:53 pm

    #441 Ruck

    So far we have covered the Fireman’s Arms and Vasco’s. Katman drooled into his keyboard after the Vasco blog and has since had to log off

  • 448.ruck: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:55 pm

    The Firemans Arms……….bloody hell…the only pub in Cape Town to allow this lot through the doors……I got thrown out there once………sigh. Thanks 4 the headsup…..will try for sure…….even if only to buy you and Katman a drink…..hahhaha

  • 449.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:56 pm

    442# RP
    Where, Japland or Thai?

  • 450.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    29 Jan 2008, 16:57 pm

    Ruck

    Would be great to see you there.

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9] 10 11 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.