Cheetahs chasing Juan
2 Oct 2012
Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster says the Bloemfontein franchise will attempt to keep Juan Smith in South Africa.
A fortnight ago, Springbok flank Smith confirmed to this site that he was working on his long-awaited comeback in 2013. The 31-year-old last played a Test in 2010 and missed the entire 2012 season because of a serious Achilles injury.
A week later, reports emerged that several French clubs were interested in recruiting the veteran, with Bayonne in pole position to land his signature. Bayonne already have five South Africans in their squad – locks Dewald Senekal and Rob Linde, flyhalf Jacques Louis-Potgieter, centre Sam Gerber and utility back Scott Spedding.
Verster said he was shocked by the news.
‘The Cheetahs have been in close contact with Juan,’ Verster told keo.co.za. ‘He is doing his recovery at our gyms and he’s working with our coaches and doctors, so we see him on a daily basis.
‘We are informed that he wants to make a comeback next year, and we do hope it’s with us. I had no clue about these French clubs who are interested in him, so I was surprised when I read the news in the paper. Maybe it’s these agents who are always trying to pull a fast one.’
Verster added that Smith is treasured at the Cheetahs.
‘He’s one of our champion players. He’s been our leader and a star performer for a very long time, and it would be amazing to have him back.
‘At this moment in time, we can’t confirm anything because he’s not 100% fit. But we’ll see how things go.’
When keo.co.za. attempted to contact Smith, he was unavailable for comment.
He did, however, reveal two weeks ago that he wanted to play Super Rugby for the Cheetahs and hoped to represent the Springboks again, if good enough. A move to France will decrease his chances of making a Test comeback.
By Gareth Duncan
17 Comments
2 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
I will say it again, central contracting – unions like the Cheetahs need help in retaining top talent.
2 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
Juan Smith – legend – the man will stay at the Cheetahs!
He will be our Bok captain next year – could be until 2015 RWC.. 
2 Oct 2012, 10:27 am
With all respect to Juan Smith and hte cheetahs, i think he should go to Bayonne and earn some bucks!!
He has been an outstanding servant of SA/Bok rugby now its time for him to take ioit easy
2 Oct 2012, 10:34 am
Juan, you deserve to make some real money in Europe or Japan while your body can still cope.
2 Oct 2012, 10:56 am
Verster said it all: “Maybe it’s these agents who are always trying to pull a fast one”
Just a few weeks ago Juan said he’s returning to the Cheetahs and that he’s keeping himself busy with his businesses in Bloem. Therefor he wouldn’t consider moving anywhere else.
It’s all about the agents trying to push the contract amount up, since Juan’s contract ends end of this year. Probably it makes business sense to use these tactics, but I’m pretty sure Juan wouldn’t be fond of these tactics. Kinda let me think that Jan-Harm is his agent. Pretty much his style.
2 Oct 2012, 10:56 am
You know an injury is bad when the best rehab in the world still takes longer than 12 months.
I think he might be finished.
2 Oct 2012, 11:07 am
Okay. No. His agent was Stephan Weyers in 2010, so it is probably the same. Interesting to note in the archives that the same media-reports about him leaving for France was used in 2010 when his new contract was to be signed.
Players also need to realize that NO agent could care less about the player, but rather worries about the commission he’s to get. If a player like Juan does take overseas contracts, which isn’t that bad, he should be sure to do his own homework about the move, since the agent will tell him all kinds of pretty things… and will leave him hanging when the commission is in his pocket, since Juan will most probably finish his career with the team he chooses.
2 Oct 2012, 14:52 pm
@Nick Armstrong-2: hahahaha, bok captain…imagine him trying to speak at the match interviews. great player but a proper plank.
2 Oct 2012, 14:54 pm
Juan should go the Japan route, easier on the body and good money. You’ve achieved all you can for the Cheetahs and Boks, time to think about your future now.
2 Oct 2012, 16:02 pm
@Bouts-7:
Dont make agents out to be the devils spawn, its disingenuous & misleading. Many a agents have also earned players good moves,ie : Dn Adongo to NZ, Ashley Johnson to Wasps. Those players were being screwed around in unions. And as much as people dont like Nasser-SBW agent, he has done his client the best MONETARY deal as possible which is HIS MANDATE.
This is PROFESSIONAL sport.
Agents are integral to the development of the athletes, in fact EVERY SINGLE pro sport has agent/business managers etc
Rugby better do the same instead “Pa” set up moves knowing nothing about the intricacies of the world of pro sport.
its a business.treat it as such
Juan should go overseas,his body has taken a lot of punishment and has been out for 2 years.With time still remaining and a gleaming reputation still in tact, he must cash in. He has one enough for Bloem and cheetahs
2 Oct 2012, 18:18 pm
More and more I am beginning to hate this professional era.
What I would like to see would be for all senior level players to be centrally contracted to the national union.
Their pay would be calculated according to formula which rewards number of games played and number of years contracted.
Players who play for the teams of their development (High School / University / Academy) would receive 25% more.
Players who play for the Springboks (matchday 22) 7 times in a year will receive a 100% bonus.
The money men have to understand that supporters (their employers) care about teams that they relate to.
I miss seeing WP play WP rugby.
I miss seeing the best players stay in places like Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Paarl.
I miss seeing the Sharks in the second division.
While I am on it, I would like to see the IRB institute a law that a player may only play for a country that
1) They are a passport carrying citizen of that country
2) They have been resident in that country for ten years
Heck, why not another…
I would like to see the IRB make a rule that any country’s national team can call up any player at any time, regardless of professional club contracts. The way things are right now rewards wealthy countries like France, Ireland, England, Japan and New Zealand, while pillaging the playing resources of poorer countries like Argentina, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Romania, Portugal and Russia.
And while those players are away clubs will have to continue paying those players as if they were there.
The truth is that if you would like to have international players, then you will have to pay for those international players.
3 Oct 2012, 01:27 am
Juan, move on, pappie. Your body is obviously beyond proper repair. You’ve got your world cup medal, trinations titles, etc. Why risk further serious injury in the toughest provincial comp in the world when you can play touch rugby in Japan for a gazillion rands a year?
3 Oct 2012, 06:34 am
@PissAnt-1: Too true. Stockpiling at some provinces and empty cupboards at others.
3 Oct 2012, 06:36 am
@clownface-8: Cram those big stupid feet into that little red car and F+ck Off!
3 Oct 2012, 07:24 am
It seems like Achilles injuries are just about the worst to recover from. Ali Williams also took about 2 years to come back and wasn’t nearly the same player.
If Juan does make it back and is 100% he could still play for quite a while considering the rest he’s had (in theory), but these Achilles injuries just seem to be career ending.
3 Oct 2012, 10:27 am
The Greatest Ever Bok Flank, in my book.
Burger gets all the plaudits but this man is the real deal.
The best we’ve had.
3 Oct 2012, 10:37 am
@Tbozknows-16: Better than Rassie at his prime? (ok, Rassie played mostly 6).
I’ve never seen Jan Ellis, Gert Smal or Theuns Stofberg, but the older folks rate those highly too.
Smith is certainly up there though.
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