By Ashfak Mohamed
The ongoing transfer saga involving Springbok centre Jaque Fourie’s intention to move to Western Province is set to go to court this week.
Fourie wants to join WP immediately, as his lawyer Frikkie Erasmus has previously said that the Lions “do not have a binding agreement” with the Bok No 13.
But the Lions argue that Fourie signed a valid contract with them that will only expire at the end of next season. The Lions’ lawyer, Johan van Gaalen, said Tuesday that the Lions will lodge their application at the Gauteng South High Court later this week.
Fourie is currently on a Tri-Nations tour with the Springboks in Australia and scored a try in their 32-25 win in Perth at the weekend.
“The Lions are most probably going to court. Jaque’s attorney has informed us that Jaque is going to Cape Town after the Tri-Nations,” Van Gaalen said. “If he does that, he is not complying with his agreement and responsibilities he has with the Lions.
“Everybody has to honour and respect agreements, and that is what the Lions want Jaque to do. Players are quick to complain if unions don’t honour contracts. The Lions don’t think that Jaque has a contract with them, they know it.
“We don’t want to have a trial by media on this matter, so we will see what happens in court. We will lodge the application during the course of this week.”
Erasmus said that he did not want to comment on the matter, but said that if any application is lodged against Fourie, it would be opposed.
“I don’t want to comment on the merits of the case in anticipation of a possible court procedure, but if an application is launched against Jaque, we will oppose it,” he said.
Veglustige Janne!!
Flummoxed by the clause in his contract that prevents him from playing for another franchise in SA (restraint of trade) whilst allowing him to play overseas.
That said, contracts should be honoured.
Unsavoury business, this.
@Pietman –
Ek stem. Jaque was happy with his contract when he got paid each month while injured and while playing. Now he doesnt have a binding contract?
Teams have to publicly defend their contracts if they want players to take the contracts seriously. But at the end of the day rugby requires commitment and nobody wants a player on the field that doesn’t want to be there.
It’s not like the Bakkies case, where he has good rugby and personal reasons to stay at the Bulls. Lions/WP will settle it somehow, and Fourie will head south.
I wonder if JdV is having second thoughts about his move.
Was the new Lions coach in charge in Jacque’s time at Monnas?
@Stirling Woodcock –
I far as I know he was! Maybe they didnt get along back then…
Hmmm…seems like an right old geezer. Was always going to take some before the coach settles down. I like what I see now, but one swallow doesnot make a summer.
@funkyzoo – Only difference is that JF wants to go to another SA union and not overseas, other than that it is exactly the same. Bakkies did not want to play for the bulls anymore and tried everthing to get out of his contract, same as JF. I personally think the players should honour their contracts, like Supa says, the Lions honoured the contract when JF was injured, now suddenly when it suits the player his contract is not legal. Players should honour their commitments, same goes for the Unions.
Klink vir my bietjie belaglik.
Wat sal ons dink as Habana sommer dadelik na die 3N Kaap toe gaan ?
Nee, hy moet tot 31 Okt sy kontrak uitdien, dan kan hy maar gaan. Tot dan moet hy nog ‘werk’ in die BB trui.
im still on the fence on this issue. i want him to come down to ct but at the same time there has to be some honour. i’ll wait and see what happens but at the end of the day money will win.
@bdb – Ek dink die Bulls moet Ngwenya koop, dan kan hy om brian hardloop daar in die Kaap
@rugbybal – but at the same time he is allowed to play overseas. does not really sound like the lions are acting in the best interests of sa rugby.
@Martin 11. YES surely some sort of compromise can be reached. Perhaps a tranfer/contract release fee can be negotiated. Province seem to be flush with cash right now. Wonder what they sold this time?
@rugbybal –
I agree entirely. You either have a contract or you dont. For years he has agreed to the terms of the contract and happily accepted the remuneration. Now he doenst believe it was a real contract? Bull. Players need to start respecting the contracting when its to their advantage or disadvantage. They agreed to the terms themselves.
If province commits to not playing Jacque against the Lions then it is effectively the same as him playing overseas.
@Supa Die Bloubul – always two sides to a dispute but see my post #13.
Die Lions is net suurgat! Hulle het klaar meer gekontrakteerde spelers as supporters, en as Jacque Fourie se familie en vriende saam met hom gaan fckoff, gaan die toeskouer getalle nog daal!
12 @rugbybal – dink daardie eerste wedstryd van habana vir die wp/stormers teen die bulle gaan ‘n grote wees. Maar, as die wp/bulle nie in volgende jaar se S14 of CB semi of finale teen mekaar speel nie, dan sal dit beteken habana sal vir die eerste keer eers in 2011 op loftus speel.
@Martin –
I dont care wether he is allowed to play overseas. Yes, that might not be in SA interest, but thats the contract he signed and happily agreed to for years. He still has the option to play for the Lions for the next year which would make him eligible for the Boks. He probably just want more money and now all of a sudden he never had a contract.
Although I agree a contract should be honoured, the clause preventing him from playing for another francise/province in South Africa, is ridiculous. He did sign this contract though, no doubt telling himself he would be moving overseas for the big money sometime after the world cup.
@bdb –
Nee wat, ons speel eers 2011 teen hulle op Loftus, dan het die gemoedere lankal gesak.
@Stirling Woodcock –
And know he can get big money in SA, thats why he want to go. Yes, his contract is silly to prevent him from only playing overseas, but the point his he obliged by that contract for years, and now he denies the legality of the contract.
No use speculating and getting all excited about the matter when no one knows the finer details of his relationship with his employer, exactly how his contract reads, the validity thereof, and whether one or both parties were in breach of the contract, which in itself may render it cancelled.
Let the judge decide, and abide by the court’s decision
@Supa Die Bloubul – Correct, I suspect that there will be a loophole in the contract or some technicality ala Mujati.
@Stirling Woodcock –
Ja, the Lions do have a problem with drawing up decent contracts it seems as the players believe they can get out of their contracts with ease.
Die wp het seker ‘n permanente prokuroof aangestel om spelers te ‘steel’ by ander provinsies.
Gelukkig het ons die sekuriteit by Loftus se trofeekas versterk, weet nie wat die wp volgende wil steel nie !
😉
@bdb –
Hulle sal nie ons S14 trofee kan steel nie, hulle weet nie hoe hy lyk nie! 😆
@bdb – the cc hehe
Sien John Smit sê hul gaan vir 5 punte saterdag teen die aussies, nie net die bonuspunt of 2 nie. Goed so.
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