Yes you read it here first as it has come to light that the Sharks are in advance talks with Bath Rugby Club to try get Butch James back home in Durban.Although not much more is known at this stage, we will let you know as soon as more infomation is available on this  matter.

 

THE SHARKS have sustained their efforts to lure former Springbok flyhalf Butch James back to the Shark Tank, but know that their bid to acquire his services depends largely on SA Rugby’s stance on picking overseas-based players.

Earlier this month, the Daily News reported that Bath had been approached by the Sharks regarding the return of James, but Bath Rugby’s chief executive, Nick Blofeld, said that although they backed his bid to try to gain selection for the Springboks, they believed he could do so from Bath.

Sharks commercial manager Rudolf Straeuli said their negotiations would continue as they sought to resolve a number of issues.

“We are negotiating with Bath but there are issues such as transfer fees, because the amount they have put forward at the moment is ridiculous.

“Then obviously the most important thing is for SA Rugby to clarify their stance on whether or not they will be considering picking overseasbased players as this is likely to have a large impact on whether or not Bath would consider releasing him.”

Throughout his tenure as Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers has said he will pick South African-based players first.

However, he relaxed that policy when he called up overseas-based BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde to last year’s end-of-year touring squad.Rest assured, the Sharks’ negotiations are sure to continue in earnest, but they will have a lot of work to do in order to extricate James from his Bath contract that still has two seasons left to run. 

 

JAMES-LVSaleWeb

11 Responses to Butch coming back home?Butch still the target, says Straeuli

  • 1

    Waars die Blues Brumnies thread???

    GBS ek kan nie inlog by Sportspool. Wat gaan aan? Het jou mail gekry, maar dit help niks???

    Wakker word.

  • 2

    morning everyone
    my day is starting at a hectic pace again!!
    see if i’ll be able to chat sometime again today!!
    cheers for now!!

  • 3

    Come home now Butch. Sharks need you. Just please no more injuries. 😀

    Not sure how Butch will cope with another year or two with those knees. Still would have him right now instead of Goode. Though Butch is injured at the moment

    Come home too BJ.

  • 4

    Morning Ash, Catch up with us here later.

  • 5

    Ja, Puma I share your concern. I’d love to see him at the Tank again, but damn, those knees! How many ops has he had now?

    I had one years ago and that was one too many for me, thank you very much…..

  • 6

    5 – Fender, Not sure how he will cope with another year of rugby with those knees. Also picks up a lot of injuries these days.

    If he came home now and could play for the rest of the S14. I would be pleased. Just that he is injured right now. So that wont happen.

  • 7

    btw butch’s injury at the mo is shoulder and not knees

  • 8

    So if he makes it in time, the battle for the wooden spoon @ the Coke Blik on 17th April could be decided by which of the 2 “oldies” have the worst knees, Butch or “King” Carlos.

  • 9

    7 – Sharky, Know that but those knees how long will they hold out? Think Butch has another 4 weeks out with that Shoulder. Not too sure.

    If he is coming then he should come now when we need him. Might be ready then to play the home games when the team gets back.

    See we only get our bye after we play Reds at the Tank. Would have been great to have had a bye on our return from from this tour. Has been a very long tour down there.

  • 10

    Another short term investment.

  • 11

    Agreed 10,why dont we just give a young guy a chance for crying out loud..

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