Former Lions, Stormers, and Western Province star center, Jaque Fourie, has reportedly been offered R22 million for the next two years to stay with his Japanese club Panasonic.
Sport24
This move will effectively see the Stormers and Western Province lose the services of the star center. This move will also possibly mean the end of Fourie’s Springbok career, depending on the new Springbok Coach’s selection policy on foreign based players. However, it is difficult to see how the new coach will be able to select Fourie, if his club allows him time off for international duty, as the level of play in Japan is below that of European and SANZAR competitions.
With Fourie no longer available for the Stormers, suddenly their center cupboard looks very bare, having lost Johann Sadie and Tim Whitehead to the Bulls and Sharks respectively. They will be relying heavily on the Springbok duo of Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh. It now seems likely that former Sharks center Adi Jacobs will be offered a contract at the Stormers to boost their depth in the midfield.
Fourie is no stranger to controversy, having had an acrimonious contractual tussle with the Lions when he left the Joburg based team for the Stormers. While I haven’t seen much reaction from the Cape media yet, it seems as if the Stormers fans are equally angry at the Stormers management and Fourie, but have excused his move due to the size of the contract.
Zeeeez, R 11 Million a year effectively… meaning a million a playing month, with one month ‘unpaid holiday’ a year.
From a financial point of view he would have been silly not to have signed.
Stormers bleed some more, and in a department where they were previously very strong (centers), suddenly they are very vulnerable.
Looks like Adi Jacobs will be getting game time anyway!
Look out now for some serious other players to follow……
Habana, Jean de Villiers, Schalla from the Stormers. Bulls have already lost Fourie du Preez & Danie Rossouw to Japan. Sharks could lose players like Beast, Bissie, Jannie Dup….
Not saying they will, but which players will not sign for R 22 mil?
Fourie has been an excellent servant to SA rugby, and good luck on him for landing a great contract in his twilight years.
@ Just For Kicks:
At 28/29 he is hardly in his twighlight years. He should be at his peak for another 2-3 years before he declines. Backline players start losing that edge at about 30/31 in most cases, and in exceptional cases they can play till about 33-35.
@ Lion4ever:With a battering that his body has taken, I am not sure that he’ll go on for more that a couple of seasons.
Just seen the blow on sport24:
SA set for eight Super 15 refs Whitehead left WP frustrated Bryce Lawrence wins ref award Cape Town – Jaque Fourie, who is currently playing rugby for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan’s Top League, will not return to South Africa in 2012/13 to play Super, or domestic rugby.
The three time Rugby World Cup and 69-cap Springbok centre, who played for the Stormers and Western Province in 2010 and 2011, has opted not to renew his contract in South Africa, having secured what is believed to be one of the biggest contracts in rugby union.
Fourie will for the next two years play for the Kobe Steelers.
“Fourie’s two year contract with WP Rugby ended after the 2011 Currie Cup and despite efforts to secure his services, Jaque has opted not to return. The deal is simply too big for us as a South African franchise.” said WP Rugby MD Rob Wagner.
“While we are obviously disappointed, Jaque made a huge impact during his stay in the Cape and we wish him well with his career in Japan.”
Een swaeltjie maak nie ‘n somer nie. Die WP het genoeg talent wat vinnig sal kan deurkom, net soos De Jongh en Sadie. Die grootste worry is hoekom WP nog nie ontslae geraak het van daai sot Toetie nie.
WP is maar soos die Bokke. Geseen met diepte en talent, maar weens bobbejaan-administrateurs kan hul net nooit lekker aan die gang kom nie. En gelukkig vir hulle opponente, sorg die onnoselgeid vir meer kompeterende aksie in toernooie! So, BlouBulle, Sharks en die res, applous vir WPRU, applous, en ‘n groot dankie!
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