Botha’s contractual bungle set to explode

Botha’s contractual bungle set to explode

1 Apr 2008

Bakkies Botha’s transfer saga continues to get more twisted, with both the Bulls and Toulon laying claim to him.

Botha is one of a number of elite players targeted by the French second division club, who already own Botha’s Springbok lock partner Victor Matfield, legendary Australia scrumhalf George Gregan, All Blacks Anton Oliver and Andrew Mehrtens, while All Blacks great Tana Umaga coaches the galaxy of stars.

When keo.co.za spoke to millionaire Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal on a recent visit to the club, he explained that Botha had signed a pre-contract with them, and would join on 1 April. He said the document indicated Botha’s intent to sign an official contract but explained that Botha was now legally obligated to join the club.

The Bulls, however, refused to release the player, despite his request, citing the fact that he was bound to the franchise by a four year contract he signed in late 2007.

This website has learned that Boudjellal last week showed the Toulon media the contract with Botha’s signature on the dotted line. Boudjellal insisted that they would secure Botha’s services irrespective of the Bulls’ assertions to the contrary.

If Botha failed to arrive on the specified date, Boudjellal said the club would proceed with legal action against the player. As it stands Botha is with the Bulls in Perth preparing for their Super 14 match against the Force. Unless the lock has developed a supernatural ability to teleport himself across the world, he is unlikely to show up for work in the south of France.

Toulon claim they have sent a copy of the signed contract to the South African Rugby Union [Saru]. However, Saru general manager of policy and regulations, Christo Ferreira, insists he has not received anything of the sort – but explained that manager of national teams Andy Marinos may be in possession of the document. Marinos asked to be contacted later on Tuesday, but would neither confirm or deny having received the contract.

“If the two parties are looking for mediation on the matter, the IRB usually deals with that. But Saru may intervene if they are requested to [by the IRB] although that hasn’t been the case to date,” Ferreira told keo.co.za.

Botha’s agent, Bernie Habana, failed to respond to questions around where the process stood, while Bulls CEO Barend van Graan was vehemently opposed to discussing the matter. “Please don’t ask me about Bakkies. I’m not talking about that. No comment,” Van Graan barked.

As it stands both the Bulls and Toulon have a contract with Botha, and Toulon will feel they have a watertight case should they opt to take legal action. The Bulls won’t relent on their position that the player has committed to them for the next four years, so the battle could get even messier in the coming weeks.

How Botha got himself into this situation is perplexing. He has no escape clause in his Bulls contract. In fact, he requested a long-term contract from the Bulls so that he would have financial security. Yet he, or his agent acting on his behalf, felt it appropriate to sign a legally bonding document with Toulon and he now finds himself in the middle of a brutal battle.

By Ryan Vrede


441 Comments

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

  • 301.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:26 pm

    297 OF COUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURSE!!!!! I swear, I cannot see the wrong in him being taken out, no guilt what so ever!!!

  • 302.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:26 pm

    Hallo Styentjie!!

    Isi nee kyk dan moet n ding gaan. Daai reel is mos eenvoudig. Langfaan skryf hoeka die naweek eksamen oor die nuwe reels……. :eek:

  • 303.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:26 pm

    Hell GBS, you were lucky to BE HELPED in the 1st place. Why you moaning brother….

    Who watched Maties vs that varsity from up north last night?

  • 304.asha1: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:26 pm

    295
    now, if we can only repeat “the golden years”!!

  • 305.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:27 pm

    299 goed goed en daar Steyntjie, het nog ‘n dag van flippen load shedding survive!!!! Net nou vir die petrol prys wat vanaand opgaan, maar nou ja ons sal dit seker ook survive!!!

  • 306.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:28 pm

    ruck
    Yes, you may say that by all means.
    Open season here, on Mad Bob.

  • 307.Steyn The Disgusted Bull: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:28 pm

    Hello Kwagga!!

    Piet,

    **** ek weet nie meer nie….jy het regtig moeite gedoen om dit by my te kry…en nou sit een van daai pos donners met die goed!!

    Nee wat die land van ons…kan niks meer stuur nie…
    En as jy die wors vergeet het dan het ons nie so lekker ge-eet nie man!!

  • 308.Tony Moneo: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:29 pm

    Wanna know why the Stormers are playing better rugby?

    “Meanwhile, former Stormers centre De Wet Barry was cleared of a deliberate late tackle on Mathew Tait by an RFU disciplinary panel yesterday, with officials deciding his red card against Newcastle on Saturday was sufficient punishment.

    Barry was sent-off during Harlequins’ 15-9 Premiership win following a shoulder charge which upended Tait, and left the England midfielder requiring treatment for several minutes.

    However, a panel chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett found Barry not guilty of a deliberate offence.”

  • 309.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:29 pm

    lol ruckles, cane is handling himself. the banter is at a humorous level, quite enjoyable really.

    asha
    where was your farm? your story affects me i’ll be honest. my eyes are wide open nowdays.

  • 310.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:29 pm

    #298 – ISIGIDI…Read my post above – hehehehe. I posted EARLY THIS MORNING saying :

    DIE KAAP IS WEER HOLLANDS……

    The list would cover an entire thread on its own…sigh. HEY SIMON: Write something about rubgy in the WESTERN CAPE and how DOMINANT we are…..

  • 311.Steyn The Disgusted Bull: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:30 pm

    EEE,

    Gaan altyd lekker….

    Ja jong die land van ons alles raak duur en niks werk soos dit moet nie….

  • 312.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:30 pm

    Hallo Steyna!
    Het jy nog nie weer pragnant test kids gekoop vandat ek jou laas gesien het nie.

    Jy’s ‘n woelage mannetjie hê?

  • 313.4man: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:31 pm

    Ranger

    Are you a personal tracker? I googled the site and dont see any staff pictures?

  • 314.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:31 pm

    Hallo almal

    Ruck, that was a game of note.

  • 315.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:32 pm

    Steyna
    Ek gaan dit nie daar los nie, ek stuur weer sodra ek by ‘duty free’ kan uitkom.
    Gaan volgende week Japan toe, dan sal ek kry.
    Moet net weer seker maak van jou adres.
    En dan sal my siel rus ou pel, n belofte is n belofte…

  • 316.Steyn The Disgusted Bull: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:32 pm

    Isi,

    Hello my maat!!!

    Nee laat ek nou vir jou se……ek maak seker daar is geen kans van so iets nie…nie nou nie

  • 317.cane: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:33 pm

    Pietman and Lady Ruckles,

    I have brought some of this condemnation upon myself, by referring to da Bulle Boy “Bakkies”, as a “thieving duplicous thug”.

    However, those who attack me use far worse words to decry and denignrate my own Nation, at every oportunity. And some of them live alongside me.

    Respect is a two way street.

    I do however admit to doing a bit of baiting from time to time.

  • 318.asha1: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:34 pm

    rangerman @ 309
    as i said, never was mine anyway … part of history etc! in hindsight dont think i wouldve had it in me to make it a success, though. wouldve become one of the statistics of one that need constant help from government.

  • 319.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:34 pm

    Pieta hierdie nuwe girl van my is so jaloers ek mag nie eers afdraai by Drie Susters nie!

  • 320.Steyn The Disgusted Bull: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:34 pm

    Piet,

    Ek se moet nie nou weer daai kans vat nie….ons sal mekaar weer hier in SA sien……dan maak ons n plan….hoe klink daai??

    Ek bring vir ons lekker dop en dan party ons so bietjie!!

  • 321.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:35 pm

    RANGER – How goes it bruv?

    EEE – this load shedding is bollocks. The petrol price is fukkkkkin crazy people.

    BOB MUGABE MUST BE TORTURED BEFORE HE IS SHOT….Lets force him to watch EVERY Bulls game EVER PLAYED…..

    Me thinks he will be begging for the bullet after that….NET N GRAPPIETJIE. Except for the bit abtou Bob being SHOT.

  • 322.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:35 pm

    Hello Kalahari-mater.
    Hoe gaat dit?
    Ek sien jy is deesdae n losskakel.
    Ek se jou!
    Het jy geweet Pieter Jooste is op Kenhardt gebore, terloops?
    Lees dit hier op keo, ‘mettie’ het dit gepos oor die naweek op daai ‘nice guy’ thread..

  • 323.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:37 pm

    Pietman, daai span is Jinx se idee. Ek lag my gat af. Het darem vleuel gespeel vir koshuis se 3de midweek.

  • 324.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:40 pm

    321 to torture satans spawn Bob all you need to do is have a *** man play with him ALL day long!!!! hehehe he is mos homophobic!!!

  • 325.asha1: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:41 pm

    324
    lol

  • 326.charo: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:42 pm

    cane,

    are you a professional fisherman or simply a part-time amateur?
    must say you seem to have been pretty successful with that species, the bluefin bulltuna, that used to congregate in the area around the confluence of the atlantic and indian oceans but over the past decade has moved to calmer waters. this species does not easily adapt to these new environs and continues to be tempted by small morsels even though it is usually blessed with a larger than normal mouth.

  • 327.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:42 pm

    #317 – Cane Cane Cane – what were you thinking? Calling Bakkies a thug? You knew they would jacknife you brother.

    #323 – Boerboel, Do not speak in jest of our team….I am honing my spear tackle, high tackle, and missed tackle skills as we speak.

  • 328.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:45 pm

    Oh no my dear Lady Ruck, I will never speak in jest of our beloved team!

  • 329.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:45 pm

    #324 – LMFAO – Tripple, you think Jurie would be up for it? (Sort of payback for fiddling where he shouldn’t have…)

  • 330.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:48 pm

    #327 – Good. I must say I think the MISSED TACKLE is going to be one of strong points…..
    Was jy by die game gisteraand? Ons was. Die laaste paar minute was edge of the seat stuff…Sheez, ons verdediging was genuine swak by tye – ons laat hulle elke keer terug in die game..NES SOOS DIE LAASTE EEN OP 16 FEB.

  • 331.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:48 pm

    329 bwahahaahahah :lol: I think he would looooooooooooove to, he would even volunteer!!!!

  • 332.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:48 pm

    331 for the afrikaner volk

  • 333.asha1: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:48 pm

    329
    you may just have found the solution to the whole problem … will teach both of them a lesson :lol:

  • 334.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:51 pm

    #331 – lol. We can just tell him that even though BOB Is like 90 years old – if you break the years up, it’s like having 9, TEN YR OLDS…

  • 335.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:51 pm

    I’ve recorded the game and watched watched it late. It was nail biting stuff.

  • 336.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:52 pm

    #333 – LMFAO….

  • 337.Tony Moneo: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:53 pm

    cane, if you want to spoil yourself, go see a Jurie Els concert. We were all very sad when he left….

  • 338.asha1: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:54 pm

    boerboel
    you’ve recorded the game, knew the score before you start watching it, and still bit your nails?? :shock:

  • 339.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:56 pm

    #338 – Here in Stellenbosch, Maties rugby is like the air we breathe – you can know the score but watching the game is still nerve wracking.

  • 340.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:56 pm

    No Asha, didn’t know the score…..

  • 341.ruck: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:57 pm

    #337 – Tony….is Jurie performing whilst in hiding?

  • 342.asha1: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:58 pm

    340
    aaaaaaaaaaah! i see says the blind man!

  • 343.katman: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 14:58 pm

    337 – Gonna have to fight g13g for tickets though. He’ll queue for days.

  • 344.Tony Moneo: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:00 pm

    341. he he, have no idea ruck! I`ve never seen the man in action and sure as hell don`t plan to!

  • 345.Tony Moneo: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:01 pm

    343. katman, I`m sure he`s Jurie`s manager…

  • 346.WP-Matador: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:02 pm

    ek mis jurie se Quick Hands soos Errol Tobias sou se

  • 347.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:02 pm

    Harare – With 131 of just over half of the results from 131 the 210 constituencies announced, the Movement for Democratic Change had won 67 parliament seats while Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) trailed slightly with 64.

    Despite calls from foreign governments, there was still no official word on the battle for the presidency between 84-year-old Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai as well as long shot candidate Simba Makoni, an ex-finance minister.

    ja, what a ball of poo! so close eh? bullsheyit!

    howdy ruckles my sis!!
    howdy isi!

  • 348.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:03 pm

    Why did the chicken cross the road?

    ESKOM: I do not care as long as he saved 10% electricity crossing the road.

    KINDERGARTEN TEACHER: To get to the other side.

    JAN F.E. CELLIERS: Dis die hoender, dis die pad, dis al.

    NATANIEL: Ek was vreeslik op my nerves vir sy part tot hy anderkant gekom het. Ek dink dit was stunning.

    NAAS BOTHA: Aan die einde van die dag maak dit nie saak hoeveel Keer hy oor die straat is nie. Wat saak maak is die telbord.

    NELSON MANDELA: It was his long walk to freedom. A true Rainbow chicken.

    PIETER-DIRK UYS: Was dit ‘n he-chicken of ‘n she-chicken? Does it Pik?

    ALLAN BOESAK: How can the motives of a chicken who had done so much for chickenhood be questioned? It must have “struggled” to cross the road.

    DULLA OMAR: I am sure the chicken is innocent. He did what he did because of the apartheid legacy.

    NGCONDE BALFOUR: The government will ensure that a fair quota of black chickens cross the road as well.

    Why should black chickens remain on this side of the road? I only watch black chickens crossing the road anyway…

    TREVOR MANUEL: Makes me think: we don’t tax chickens crossing roads yet….

    VAN SCHALKWYK: Let’s join the chicken and cross the road!

    TONY LEON: No matter where the chicken goes, we have the guts to fight back.

    DESMOND TUTU: We should have crossed the road with him. Together we will make a difference

    THABO MBEKI: I don’t really have an opinion about this…

    MARK SHUTTLEWORTH: I would have paid a million to see the chicken cross the road!

    MUGABE: Stop that chicken! It must be repossessed together with the farm it belongs to. And the farm on the opposite side of the road, where
    It was going, and all the chickens on both farms. Repossess it all. And it’s nobody’s business what I do in my country.

    It is Britain ‘s fault for bringing chickens here anyway.

    JACOB ZUMA: The showers were across the road

    MANTO: Whish schicken (hic!) – I saw many …pink shikkins

  • 349.Tripple E: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:07 pm

    ok bye all, gotta go….chat tomorrow again!!!!

  • 350.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    1 Apr 2008, 15:07 pm

    latest

    Zanu PF 64
    MDC 62

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