Bath bent on retaining Butch

Bath bent on retaining Butch

29 Sep 2008

Butch James has been offered a new three-year deal with Bath and could see out his career in Europe.

At 29, the Springbok flyhalf’s career has been afflicted by injury, and many critics have long believed his troublesome knees would have the final say. James has also made it clear that there’s too much rugby on the go, and that his retirement from all rugby may not be far off.

Keen to retain James’s services, Bath have reportedly offered the Bok playmaker a three-year contract extension. This would rule out any chance of James returning to play for his old province in South Africa, the Sharks.

Word from the English midlands is that James is likely to remain at Bath. As far as Test rugby is concerned, the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa could be his final fling with the Boks.


20 Comments

  • 1.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 11:45 am

    Butchie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 2.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 11:47 am

    Glad for Butchie… Sharks don’t want to give him a 3 year deal… Bath do…. Right choice…

  • 3.Darquan: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 12:13 pm

    Funny how we don’t see anything on Heine Meyer’s team losing this weekend to the Waps. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy as a coach, just….why only report the good news?

    As for Butch. Hope we get someone better than him for the next 3-5 years.He was good at best, and sometimes far off from good. All the best to him at Bath.

    ??? Bath? Do the English even know what that is? :) joke

  • 4.SyKoPlaya: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 12:25 pm

    Way to go Butchie – good player and treated well by the UK people.

  • 5.obelix11a: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 12:29 pm

    NANANANANANa NANANANANANa hey-hey goodbye!! Death to all flyhalves who can only tackle. Du preeze won us the world cup, and 13 other guys any droid could have played flyhalf so don’t give me he won us the world cup line. Hopefullt someone with talent flare and ability will get a chance a ruan pienaar or frans steyn hell even a morne or a grant but leave old shody knees on that miserable island!!

  • 6.Violet: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 12:30 pm

    So should we still consider him for the lions tour?

  • 7.Bonedog: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 12:39 pm

    It is the right decision, the sharks only gave him a year contract before the world cup and bath offered a 2 year contract, they obviously appreciate our talented players more than we do in SA.

  • 8.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 13:02 pm

    Take the money Butch.

    Nothing left to prove in SA.

  • 9.So this is rock bottom: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 14:12 pm

    #3 Darquan:

    The English clubs play like 40 games a season….I guess one loss (his first so far) is not newsworthy yet

  • 10.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 14:33 pm

    #9 So this is rock bottom: nor is one win. but we got that news quick-sharp.

  • 11.Darquan: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 14:49 pm

    #9 So this is rock bottom: I see your point, but then the same could go for 1 win. But we basically had weekly updates since before the first game. Oh well, they can’t please us all and it is the business end of our own CC.

  • 12.Darquan: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 14:50 pm

    #10 the peanut gallery: Exactly. Oh, and we’ve got a server named PeanutGallery at the office :)

  • 13.So this is rock bottom: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 14:51 pm

    #10 the peanut gallery: #11 Darquan:

    What can I say…Keo writers = muppets

  • 14.obelix11a: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 15:26 pm

    #8 PissAnt: What did he prove in SA!?! never in winning domestic team. Never put together a match winning performance in a bok shirt solid nothing more nothing less. Spent 18 months for trying to decapitate a player. Never lived up to any of his early sublime skill. In short a waste of time who is nothing more than a loosie at 10 who has a good pass and and okish distribution.

  • 15.Cheetha Champs: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 15:58 pm

    #14 obelix11a: Last time i checked he still had a world cup medal around his neck. Last time I checked he had played in more Super 14 finals than any other South Africa flyhalf.

    Good enough for me.

  • 16.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 19:55 pm

    #3 Darquan: This is a Butch story I think bud. There has been no NH round-up which is a pity. Melck scored the crucial try in the big Irish derby.

  • 17.carol meredith: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 21:32 pm

    Butch, you are welcome to stay up here with us, at least we appreciate you!! Roy when do I get to interview Butch for SA Rugby Magazine, I have not yet had the call up

    #3 Darquan: I thought you hid the money under the soap in South Africa :-) No offence intended there !!! (Old Pommie joke).

  • 18.Biscuit: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 22:49 pm

    #7 Bonedog:

    Sharks only gave hi a year contract before the WC.

    I don’t think that is accurate. I think he asked for a years contract so he could go to the UK after the WC

  • 19.Biscuit: Reply to this comment
    29 Sep 2008, 22:54 pm

    #5 obelix11a:

    Well who is that flyhalf to step up? He has not shown his face yet

    You understate James WC. his kicking game was superb. Just watch him in the England and Argie game and again in the final.
    Superb control. Its wasn’t about tackling

    Reckon PdV will cast him aside anyway. We need a flyhalf for 2011. However we have to beat the Lions next year. So for that series b*gger building. Lets win and if James isthe man then so be it

  • 20.Bonedog: Reply to this comment
    30 Sep 2008, 08:24 am

    Biscuit, he was only offered a one year contract by the sharks for after the world cup that is why he anounced before the world cup that he was going to bath for a 2 year contract, he had no choice really. Its is accurate by the way.

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.

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