Lionel Mapoe may soon be on his way to the Blue Bulls due to a salary dispute with the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU).
The FSRU’s legal representatives will meet with Mapoe’s on Thursday. The meeting may determine whether Mapoe’s contract is valid or whether he can be contracted by the Bulls for a salary of R1.4 million straight away.
Sport24’s sources indicate that Mapoe is earning around R29 500 per month in the Super 14, which is the minimum salary for a South African player in the Super 14. His contract with Free State is worth about R200 000 a year.
Mapoe was contracted as an unknown emerging talent by the Cheetahs in 2008 for R80 000 a year for three years, with annual increases built into the contract.
He still played for the Free State under-21 side in 2009 and only made his mark for the senior team later in the season, after which the Cheetahs decided to increase his salary.
The Cheetahs are now believed to be willing to increase his salary to R750 000 a year within 24 months if he’s prepared to extend his contract until 2012.
Mapoe’s representatives believe that his current salary is not market related.
FSRU president Harold Verster confirmed to Sport24 that he had received a lawyer’s letter from the agents in which the validity of Mapoe’s contract is disputed.
“There is an issue around Mapoe’s contract. His agent, Red Star Talent and more specifically Mike de Haast, is looking at the issue with lawyers. The matter is sub judice because there are ongoing negotiations between the lawyers and we have a meeting on Thursday,” said Verster.
“You can probably always go looking for a problem in a contract. We are quite certain our affairs are in order.
“It’s a pity that this kind of thing always pops up before we play a big South African team. It’s disruptive for the team and players. It’s a pity that our own people in Bloemfontein disrupt our team at such a crucial time.”
Verster believes Mapoe is a star and the Cheetahs would like to keep him in the long term.
“We have looked after him very well to date. He did not have a medical aid last year when he suffered a knee injury. His agents did not arrange a medical aid for him. Free State Rugby paid R25 000 for his knee operation,” said Verster.
“He has also had free accommodation for the past two years at the Cheetah house.”
De Haast says that the Bulls have not made Mapoe an offer.
“Lionel is committed to the Cheetahs and is looking forward to Saturday’s match against the Stormers,” he said.
58@ Wezwp – Would you like to see a picture of the Bulls babe with the dark hair?
……..Nonu vs Wynand this match up should be interesting.
@ 58 wezwp – Might well be…
Anyway, probably just my imagination.
Let us see how things work out in the next couple weeks.
And WesWP, that BULLS-STORMERS game is coming…
And of course, good afternoon all..
Maybe later@ gbs
59@ Hokaai – Noooooooooo, it did not… nobody was accused of being a racist, no handbags were thrown, nobody got their knickers twisted… nobody’s lipstick got smudged…. hehehehe
Wezwp
I think you’re probably right, but as the Sharks found out last year, being in the top 4 at the halfway stage is no guarantee of success at the finale.
Of course with my Lions this is a stupid statement as they could only ever be on top of the log just BEFORE the FIRST round and they Changed their name to the Aaaaapies or something.
Wezwp
I’m quite confident in WO, adding to that I’m pretty concerned about injuries though…
#63. We now need “Stywe Arm” JP Nel for Nonu, gonna miss him this weekend.
Dis hoe Bul ondersteuners hul spelers onthou, julle kan maar spot oor n man se val maar sy nalatenskap is verewig in Bul geskiedenis.
Onvergelykbare spelers, Joost en Fourie.
Joost was briljant en was ‘n absolute x-faktor. Hy kon die mees onverwagte ding doen en dit suksesvol deurvoer. Ek dink hy was in sy eie reg een van die Bulle se beste skrumskakels nog. Hy het die meeste driee vir die Bokke gedruk. Hy het jaar na jaar die springbokspan met gemak gehaal in jare toe die Bulle gesukkel het. Joost het dus uitgestaan in ‘n span met baie potensiaal maar wat nooit werklik die bekers kon uitstal nie. Dit vertrel iets van hom. Die Bulle se beste jare in sy tyd was 1991, 95, 96,98, 99 en 2002. Joost kon net twee keer as kaptein die CC omhoog hou. Die kere wat hy dit wel reggerky het was hy die kaptein en was die Bulls elke slag die underdogs. Dis wanneer die beste in Joost navore gekom het. Joost het ‘n teenwoordigheid op die veld gehad wat jou laat klein voel in sy skaduwee, sal baie opponente vertel. Hy het baie te make gehad met die Bulle se herelwing sedert 2002, toe heelwat van die senior manne uitgetree het of na ander spanne toe gegaan het.
Fourie du Preez was deel van daardie jongelinge wat uit Joost se skadu geklim het en sy eie voete met sy eie spelpatroon kon vind. Fourie se sterkpunt is hy is briljante ontleder van die game en kan met sy hangskoppe jou hele spelpatroon ontwrig. As kaptein was hy belsis nie Joost se gelyke nie, maar as strateeg was hy nie net instrumenteel in die bulle se sukses nie, maar ook in die Bokke s’n. Ek dink hy gaan baie goeie coach maak eendag.
Posted by mossel (Hout Bay)
Maybe I am bit oversensitive this week.. tsk tsk.
Does Blouste work for gbs or are they one person?
Joost used to be my hero in the 90’s.
Still have respect for him as a player… got screwed over by the media… easy target and used by the unscrupulous.
72@ Wezwp – No, Blouste does not work for me, I only appoint clever people and people with hair on their heads…. hehehehe
67
Scrumdown, dont forget the Bulls won their first 5 games last year and had to win certain games to get a home semi final, it was touch and go. I really dont think we will win all our games, but one normally makes the semis with 3 lost games so we have some leeway. This start is lekkkkkkeerrrrrrrrrr
Actually, Wezwp, all the the Bulls supporters here are just different Avatars of myself (GBS)… hehe
Joost is a hothead and thinks the sun shines out of his ass, You obviously havnt read keo’s books.
76@ Hokaai – Hehehehe… you mean I have some serious split personalities…. fark, luckily they’re all Bulls supporters….
Newsflash.
The Melbourne Rebels have upped their interest in SA players with Stormers No 8 Duane Vermuelen reportedly on their wishlist.
Wezwp
Post your photo…
Then go play “spot the difference”…
Should’nt even be to difficult for you…
gbs
Ek het baie hare hoor, moet hulle net groei !!! 😆 Joune lyk my raak min, een van die dae retrench jy jouself.. 😯
@76 Hokaai 😆
77
Wezwp, jy moet flokken mooi lees, “Dis hoe Bul ondersteuners hul spelers onthou” ek het nie jou mening gevra hoe jy oor hom voel nie.
Superbul @ 75
From the first round I’ve said quietly to friends and colleagues that the Bulls have started where they left off last year.
They are not normally the fastest starters, but I think results thus far could prove ominus for the rest of the contenders.
Of course you realise that the Lions who’s only realistic chance of a win this year is against the Force could well go across the Jukskei and win at Loftus. Sod’s law I’m afraid.
(Of course all of the Lions supporters would use this as vindication that the season was actually a success.)
77@ Wezwp – As Joost op ‘n riempiesbank sit, skyn die son in blokkies…. hehehehe
Look, there are many arrogant players and ex-players…. I suppose for some it comes with the territory, but let’s focus on what they achieve or achieved on the rugby field.
Best passer of the ball ever, as a scrummie, was Tommy Du Plessis and also Robert du Preez.
Talking about Robert du Preez, I see his son also plays scrummie and shows some promise…. now where did I see him play in this past week… must have been on one of the classic clashes games…..
82,
Thats so true, imagine the Lions winning the Bulls and claiming the wooden spoon. What will they talk about. Their 5th wooden spoon or beating the Bulls.
Joost was one of Sa’s better scrumhalves….
super…
Duane,regtig?
Joost was voted much higher than FduP the other day, but another good year by FduP will make him SA,s best ever.
Blouste yes saw that on News24. But anyway the Rebels are looking everywhere, i doubt that he will leave the mountain.
Hows this News
Saracens have agreed to release Wikus van Heerden from his contract early after the Lions sent a request asking to have his services for the remainder of the Super 14.
The Springbok flanker was only set to join the Lions at the end of the Guinness Premiership season, but will be released early from his contract.
Van Heerden will link up with the Johannesburg-based team, and be eligible to play in the rest of the Super 14 tournament.
Brendan Venter, Director of Rugby, said: “Wikus has produced many outstanding performances for Saracens and we wish him and his family well.”
Van Heerden requested the move back to South Africa after struggling to settle himself and his family in the UK.
And according to WTR he will be here on Monday. Good luck Wikus, you were great when you played for the Bulls, wish you all the luck. Something you might need a lot off.
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