The Blue Bulls Rugby Union believe the growing storm surrounding their signing of Springbok winger Bjorn Basson is an “internal matter” in the Cheetahs franchise and has nothing to do with them.

Brendon Nel

Reports on Tuesday morning suggested there is growing unhappiness in the Cheetah region as the Super 14 franchise contributes 60 percent of Basson’s salary but allegedly wasn’t consulted about his move to the Blue Bulls.

Basson signed a two year contract to join the Blue Bulls as from November 1 this year, as the defending Absa Currie Cup and Vodacom Super 14 champions look to increase their depth in their squad on the wing.

The leading try scorer in the Currie Cup this year, Basson’s departure will hurt the Cheetahs franchise ahead of next year’s Super rugby competition, especially with another speedster Lionel Mapoe currently in a contractual dispute with the Free State Rugby Union.

But the Blue Bulls Rugby Union’s High Performance manager Ian Schwartz dismissed the complaints saying his union had followed the guidelines as laid down by the South African Rugby Union.

“We have taken note of it but it is an internal issue in the Cheetahs Super rugby region and is between Griquas and the Free State. We have followed the right procedures and we are happy that everything is fine in the way we have contracted him,” Schwartz said. On Tuesday Cheetahs president Harold Verster indicated his union were soliciting legal advice on the matter.

“In light of what has happened, the Cheetahs’ executive committee gave approval for us to seek legal advice on the matter,” said Verster. “As soon as we have received the necessary recommendations there will be a special directors meeting where the findings, and the consequences thereof, will be discussed,” said Verster.

“Bjorn is one of the Cheetahs’ top players. We are making every attempt to keep our star players in the region. We have to protect our interests,” said Verster.

There has been speculation that the real fight is over who gets the transfer fee paid by the Blue Bulls – said to be in the region of R1-million – which both Griquas and the Cheetahs, who are not strong financially, desperately need.