Butch banks on Bath
10 Oct 2008
Springbok flyhalf Butch James has ruled out a return to South Africa by signing a three-year extension to his current contract with Premiership side Bath.
The extension will see the 29-year-old remain at the club until the end of the 2011/2012 season. There were reports that a number of South African franchises and big European clubs had shown interest in his services, but he will now effectively end his career at The Rec.
“I have made some really good friends in Bath and am really happy playing rugby here and hope to keep playing well for Bath,” he told the club’s official site.
James has spoken openly about the possibility of retirement from international rugby after the British and Irish Lions series in mid 2009 and hinted at that once more.
“It is always great to be able to play for your country,” admitted Butch. “But, I am not sure. I think my days as an international player might be numbered, although I would still really like to make the Lions Tour. If I make the selection for that, we will see from there.”
16 Comments
10 Oct 2008, 08:49 am
Butch, that is thinking like a dragon!
(Gee I haven’t done that in a while
)
10 Oct 2008, 08:53 am
Nice one Butchie, you dont really have anything else to prove in SA.
I reckon he’s still our no.1 flyhalf but only because he’s the best of a bad bunch.
But be aware that when you return, you may well be playing for the King Proteas or the Blue Cranes or some other shite name thought up by Kompela and Borat and co.
10 Oct 2008, 08:55 am
Always liked Butch so, can’t realy blame him for hanging on to the mulah. Have to feel its not all about the money tho cause some of those clubs would’ve made some good offers. No? Anyway, he’s right in saying that his days as int FH is numbered eventhough I don’t know where the nxt 10 is gonna come from. Fortunately we have a couple of “Great Pretenders” in Grant and Steyn, maybe even Pienaar. Oh and btw…. Dragons to all!!!
10 Oct 2008, 09:08 am
Old news this.
He should retire from test rugby now. We need to groom his successor asap.
10 Oct 2008, 09:33 am
Thought was gon’ be a dragon……for once…….
MAKE dem’ POUNDS Butchie…………All the way…..i support you.
10 Oct 2008, 09:39 am
Logical move
Good luck Butch
10 Oct 2008, 10:28 am
this is very old news..
10 Oct 2008, 11:20 am
#3 BokiNZ: He wanted the job security of a long term contract. Sharks didn’t offer that citing injuries.
10 Oct 2008, 11:23 am
Ja like a week old
10 Oct 2008, 11:34 am
#2 Biggles: LOL. Yes Butch may not want to return to play for the King Protea!!! Good luck to Butch. You only have so many years to play top level rugga. At least he went over while a little older and served his country well. I hope still to see him playing for us in the Lions tour and that I think will be his last. That if he makes it. I think that PdV after giving him a chance now hearing Butch say this will probably not pick him. I think Ruan will take over. Anyway I will have great memories of how well Butch played for the Sharks last year and especially how good he played for his country in the Bok jersey in the WC. Good luck to you Butch. You deserve it.
10 Oct 2008, 12:00 pm
Earn them pounds while you still can Butch, you have done a magnificent job for the Sharks and the BOKS, often in the face of some extremely harsh and negative criticism.
You have done yourself and Maritzburg College proud, nobody could have asked more of you.
10 Oct 2008, 12:33 pm
#11 jonnow: Yip. We just needed him to perform at the WC and he did that brilliantly
10 Oct 2008, 13:37 pm
Butch was very underrated, pity about the injuries, pretty level-headed guy too about test days numbered, seems ppl want to get another flyhalf, but reckon he’ll be very useful for the lions tour. if stays fit and anything can happen.
10 Oct 2008, 16:22 pm
There is a no 10 playing for Griffons on TV right now, looks awesome, wish the MIGHT LIONS would sign him.
10 Oct 2008, 16:24 pm
Well done Butch, I would do the same. He has done everything he wants to in SA, and is now doing something he enjoys and getting paid 15x more for it.
10 Oct 2008, 19:32 pm
Butch has been an underrated player for SA, besides WC 2007. He has nothing more to prove in the provincial team, as he is a Sharks legend, and he is a world cup winning flyhalf. Time for him to build a legacy at The Rec. His career post World Cup seems to be flowing like that of Joel Stransky
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