Bath in move for Steyn?
9 May 2008
Reports from England suggest that Bath are poised to make a move to contract Frans Steyn.
The Independent reports that the Premiership club are keen to acquire the services of South Africa’s brightest young talent.
“His name is being bandied around Recreation Ground with considerable gusto, as is that of the All Black flanker Jerry Collins, and it is not difficult to see why,” Independent rugby correspondent Chris Hewitt wrote. “Olly Barkley, a goal-kicking centre in the form of his life, is in the last throes of his career at Bath before heading up the M5 to Gloucester, and Olly Barkleys do not grow on trees. If, as is widely expected, the England midfielder Toby Flood joins Leicester, the West Countrymen will have to look elsewhere to replace their most influential back.”
The Sharks lost Springbok flyhalf Butch James to a lucrative contract offer from Bath at the end of 2007 and Steyn’s departure would be a another massive blow to the Durban-based franchise.
However, Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl has strongly denied the rumours. “Thats absolute rubbish. Frans is contracted until the end of 2009 so it is impossible that he will leave before then,” Van Zyl told keo.co.za. “We’ve had no contact with Bath and neither will we entertain any offers for Frans He is a key player for us.”
This week SA Rugby announced that Steyn was among the group of 11 Springboks who signed a one-year contract. However, the outcome of Bakkies Botha’s pending legal action against the Blue Bulls Company will have a profound influence on how binding contracts are in future.
Botha is attempting to have his Bulls contract, which runs until 2011, declared null and void, allowing him to accept a multi-million rand contract offer from French second division club Toulon. Steyn is unlikely to follow a similar course of action should the rumoured approach be credible, but interest from European clubs will certainly intensify the closer he gets to the end of his contract.
IRB regulations prohibit any player or their representatives from negotiating with another union/franchise until 120 days prior to the expiration of the player’s contract. The Sharks will surely attempt to tie him down to a long-term deal well before the northern-hemisphere big spenders come knocking.
However, if Steyn left South Africa as a 21-year-old he would have, at the very least, 10 years of commanding a massive salary from whichever European club contracted him (should he choose not to return).
With SA Rugby poised to scrap restrictions on overseas-based players, Steyn’s Test career would not be threatened, although it would take a skilled juggling act to manage the club versus country clash. It would therefore not be inconceivable to suggest that Steyn could finish his career as the richest South African rugby player in history, given the extended time period he would be able to spend playing in Europe, when compared to the majority of his peers who move in their mid-to-late 20s.
With rumours abound linking Steyn to Bath, another former Sharks could well be on his way back from Europe. Van Zyl intimated that there is a strong possibility that John Smit could re-join the franchise by the end of May.
“With John having been appointed captain of the Springboks and [Springbok head coach] Peter de Villiers keen to see him playing in South Africa, we have been in contact. If he does return, it will have to be well before the Springboks’ first Test [7 June].”
The French season only concludes in six weeks time and Smit’s Clermont are currently embroiled in an almighty scrap with Toulouse for the top log position. Given that scenario, Clermont are understandably reluctant to release one of their prized assets and that situation could turn ugly in the coming weeks.
Van Zyl also confirmed that French maestro Frederic Michalak could return to the Sharks to play in the Currie Cup. Michalak injured knee ligaments in their match against the Waratahs, ruling him out of the Super 14, but according to his agent he does not require surgery and will be ready to play in six weeks.
“There is a chance Fred could come back but we haven’t seen any of his medical records yet. When we do we will discuss the issue,” Van Zyl said. “The likelihood is that Frans and Ruan [Pienaar] will be in the Springbok squad this season and that obviously leaves us short of options at flyhalf. We need to find a solution to that challenge and in that regard we haven’t completely ruled out a return for Fred.”
By Ryan Vrede
86 Comments
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9 May 2008, 11:52 am
Frans Steyn is a dragon!
9 May 2008, 11:57 am
Well not only will Frans be the richest south african rugby player in history but he could easily play for England in 4 years time if he wished.
9 May 2008, 11:58 am
hey sheriff, howdy mate!!!
9 May 2008, 11:59 am
#2 leeanthonyw: once you have played for a country, you cant play for another one no?
9 May 2008, 11:59 am
let him go the way he is playing this season he wouldn’t make greys third team
9 May 2008, 12:01 pm
#5 MR Lam: no no no mr lam. let JdV go rather. he is older and needs the cash.
9 May 2008, 12:03 pm
rangerman – Tiaans Strauss was Bok captian and ended up playing for Australia in RWC99
9 May 2008, 12:05 pm
#5 MR Lam:
Agree!
9 May 2008, 12:05 pm
#7 leeanthonyw: ja, but they amended that rule as far as i know.
9 May 2008, 12:05 pm
#7 leeanthonyw: That condition changed – Tiaan was one of the last allowed to do that. Once you receive a cap for a senior national side, you are not allowed to play for another country.
9 May 2008, 12:06 pm
maybe someone can help out here but i dont think steyn would be eligible for the poms.
9 May 2008, 12:06 pm
#7 leeanthonyw:
IRB rules changed post Tiaan Strauss. One country only.
9 May 2008, 12:07 pm
Do contracts mean **** all these days?
If Smitty returns, Pieter de Villers will pick his entire squad from local players.
Ryan – oversees?
9 May 2008, 12:07 pm
A rule they should ammend in my view.
They should change that to guys over 30, being allowed to return to his country of birth and be allowed to play for them.
This will surely help the Islands when guys fall out of favour with Aus and NZ national teams.
Will help countries like Namibia a hell of a lot too.
9 May 2008, 12:08 pm
#11 rangerman: No he is not. He can only play at national level for SA.
9 May 2008, 12:09 pm
4 rangerman
That’s right – he cant play for England or any other country as he’s played for the Boks
9 May 2008, 12:09 pm
hanks pa, saffa_chappie. where you been by the way saffa?
9 May 2008, 12:10 pm
#12 saffa_guy: Accept if you are an All Balck
9 May 2008, 12:12 pm
#17 rangerman:
Busy as a beaver – the north american river kind of course.
Been scanning the blog in the evenings the past few days. See the massess are still keeping each other entertained as per usual.
9 May 2008, 12:12 pm
#10 PissAnt: Is that why Kennedy Tsimba never made the Boks???
9 May 2008, 12:12 pm
cheers seamus. thats settled at least, but i like pa’s suggestion about guys post 30 yrs. as ever, a thinker that pa.
now we just need to tell bath to *** off!!! (and give butch back while they are at it!). it worries me a little that brian van zyl is shooting his mouth off after not giving butch the 2yr contract he asked for! what a great decision, must be reallly chuffed eh brian? wonder why our backline hasnt fired do you?
hmmmmm……
9 May 2008, 12:13 pm
#19 saffa_guy: yup, entertaining as always!
#20 Kameeltjie: i think thats exactly why. what a pity.
9 May 2008, 12:14 pm
Seeing that i’ve not yet represented the Boks, reckon i’m still eligible for the Somali national team. Weighing in at an all mighty 69kg reckon i’ll make their perfect heavy weight, enforcer forward
9 May 2008, 12:14 pm
Sad news if true. I don’t have a problem with older players in their twilight going over to earn some serious buckazoids. But when Europe poach our youngsters that still has a lot to offer for the Boks, I’m upset.
9 May 2008, 12:15 pm
#6 rangerman:
stormer boys don’t run away and the way frannie is going now he wont get anymore offers so he better take this one
9 May 2008, 12:17 pm
#25 MR Lam: hmmm…..de wet, cobus, marius……should i go on? ok, i’ll make you a deal, lets give them aplon instead.
9 May 2008, 12:19 pm
Players can no longer represent more than one country. That is why Kees Lensing for example is lost for the Boks – he played for Namibia before. Also why NZ was so quick to put a All Black shirt on Greg Rawlinson before Jake White could offer him a Bok jersey (not that I think he is in the Victor/Bakkies/Chris Jack league anyway).
9 May 2008, 12:20 pm
#20 Kameeltjie: Yes it was.
9 May 2008, 12:22 pm
#26 rangerman:
sorry stormer boys worthwhile dont run away as for those lot just kobus was a loss de wet after a brilliant start is like FS just got worse as he got older, maruis revived his career at FS and they both were not offered contracts to stay at WP thats why they left KV went for the BUCKS
9 May 2008, 12:26 pm
#29 MR Lam: kinda like your now ended sojourn in the city of gold lammie?
9 May 2008, 12:31 pm
yep
you worried about the Cheetahs tomorrow or you think your boys are finally going to wake up
9 May 2008, 12:31 pm
Come back Fred!!
9 May 2008, 12:33 pm
hey, what’s with all the sharks threads today? someone send you boys some durban poison to celebrate keo’s win?
9 May 2008, 12:35 pm
#31 MR Lam: i am worried! but i keep the faith and will trek to the tank to lend my support.
9 May 2008, 12:39 pm
Is there a limit on the number internationals that european rugby teams could field, because football looks like it is moving in that direction.
9 May 2008, 12:48 pm
#3 rangerman:
Ranger
Sorry mate saw now only. Bit on and off here.
When is your team playing?
9 May 2008, 12:50 pm
#36 Sheriff: sheriff
tom, 15h00. i will be with the masses in the stands. sorry i couldnt chat the other day but i was on a pda phone, very slow and frustrating!
9 May 2008, 12:51 pm
‘Die Seun’ is most definately one of the most talented players we’ve had in a while but harping on about “could be’s” is going to get him no-where. We (Sharks&Springboks) need to decide on a position & develop him from there. We dont want another, albeit bigger, Brent Russel story do we? Allow him to settle & make use of this talent for the good of SA rugby, not those of the land of useless tan.
9 May 2008, 12:52 pm
come to think of it, fransie looks like he needs (a) bath.
9 May 2008, 12:53 pm
#37 rangerman:
Yeah back today after 2 days away. At the office that is.
A bit hectic at the moment, hoping to have more time this afternoon.
Harry met Dawn last night. I’m trying to get him to provide some feedback.
9 May 2008, 12:55 pm
#40 Sheriff: he is also on and off. mostly on the canes thread it seems. i would also like to know how that went. dawn seems a little scathing, but maybe she is just trying to hide her feelings for harry.
9 May 2008, 12:59 pm
Was this really so hard to predict?
As more and more of our best young talent heads overseas the SA rugby bosses will surely realise the insanity of making overseas based players eligible for Bok seleciton.
Soon the Super 14 will be a mere development competition where a good player will shine for a season or two before being snapped up by the big money clubs from Europe. It’s sad to see rugby arrive at this point.
In 5 years time we might as well stop watching the Super 14 (nevermind the Currie Cup), and just live in anticipation for the 11 or so Tests scheduled per year (of which half are against **** opposition in any case.) In reality, we will only have the Tri-nations to look forward to in a 12 month rugby calendar.
But then that’s what all the progressives among us want, is it not?
9 May 2008, 13:06 pm
All this is going to lead to rugby going the franchise route like American sports. Only a matter of time. Rugby is played by professionals and run by rank amateurs. Why shouldn’t a player take offers overseas ? As long as a club is willing to pay a transfer fee I dont see what the problem is. The rugby world needs to wake up and grow up
9 May 2008, 13:06 pm
#42 Tacitus: Ja, it all started when they did away with the Group Areas Act.
9 May 2008, 13:20 pm
Francois is way to talented to just let go. The man is an exceptional talent. He may not have had the best S14 but remember the old saying about class being permanent? Steyn is pure class.
9 May 2008, 13:22 pm
#42 Tacitus: For the life of me I cannot figure out what made you so negative…. Oh, wait…..
9 May 2008, 13:25 pm
#46 Tony Moneo: lol tony! its all doom and gloom with tac but he has some good points every now and then. you feeling confident?
9 May 2008, 13:32 pm
#47 rangerman: Hey ranger! Not really, looks like the weather might make the game a bit of a lottery. Here`s hoping we pull it through! You guys are sure to take the points, I am confident about that.
9 May 2008, 14:27 pm
Steyn left his beloved Free State for the money, so I can see him turning his back on South Africa for a few pound sterling.
9 May 2008, 14:42 pm
#9 rangerman: Very True!
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