The Golden Lions Rugby Union remain hopeful of luring two World Cup-winning Springboks back to South Africa, despite the reluctance of their European clubs.
rugby365
GLRU Chief Executive Officer Manie Reyneke confirmed that they have been in discussion with officials from Bath, for Butch James, and Racing Metro, for Frans Steyn.
“We have been talking to them [Bath and Racing] for some time,” Reyneke said, when asked about reports that they are attempting to lure the duo back to South Africa.
The Lions boss said the idea is for both, who have contracts with their European clubs that run well beyond 2011, to return to the country by January.
“We are hoping to get them back ahead of next year’s World Cup,” he said.
The two seasoned backline stars – who played at flyhalf, James, and inside centre, Steyn, in the Springboks’ victorious 2007 World Cup campaign – featured prominently in the South African team’s 2010 Test campaign.
However, Bath appears reluctant to release James from his contract, especially after the unsavoury run-in with South African Rugby Union officials in June – when they declined to release him for a Test against Wales – and a subsequent shoulder injury he suffered playing for the Boks in the Tri-Nations.
The injury, which required surgery, has kept James on the sidelines so far this European season.
Steyn’s French club also appears reluctant, following an administrative stand-off with bungling SARU officials this year, to release the Bok from his contract.
However, the GLRU – now being bankrolled by wealthy IT entrepreneur Robert Gumede – remain optimistic.
“We are reasonably hopeful,” the Lions boss said, adding: “We have put an offer on the table and we are waiting for an answer.
“It is in the best interest of the players that they play in the Super 15, to give them the best shot at a World Cup spot.”
The answer the GLRU is waiting for may well be negative if comments from Bath officials are anything to go by.
Bath Chief Executive Nick Blofeld said the negotiations with the GLRU had been amicable, but that Bath’s line had been firm.
“They are keen to build a relationship with us and take Butch back early,” he told the Bath Chronicle.
“But it remains the case that Butch is contracted with us and Butch is with us, certainly for this season.
“Both parties are fighting over a player for the same reasons. Butch is a brilliant leader and player, and we both want him in our squads.
“We have said categorically that we want him here until the end of the season.
“They want him to go back and build up to the World Cup over there. In an ideal world, South Africa would like him back playing in the Super 15.”
James’ former province, the Sharks, were also interested this year in luring him back to South Africa, but the biggest stumbling block proved to be the transfer fee requested by Bath.
James’ contract with Bath runs until 2012 and buying him out was beyond the Sharks.
However, Gumede – the first black partner in a South African provincial team – has made it clear that no price is too high for him, as he strives to rebuild the Lions into one of the country’s premier domestic teams.
Bath’s reluctance to release another Bok early comes in the wake of this week’s announcement that captain Luke Watson would depart The Rec and return to his hometown of Port Elizabeth.
Blofeld said Bath is happy to start discussions about a potential move for James at the end of the 2010/11 season in May – three months before the World Cup.
James is desperate to help his country retain the Webb Ellis Cup next year.
Butch James is just NOT worth it…. specially with a developing Elton Jantjies there.
Fransie Steyn could be a good option for inside ceter, to get him back to Southern Hemisphere speed and enhance his World Cup 2011 inclusion chances.
However, if I was the Lions I would not break the bank for either of the 2. What guarantee have we got that Fransie Steyn would shape for RWC 2011… after all we have Jean and Juan de Jongh to cover inside center… and Meisiekind is still in the running too.
If you told me Fransie Steyn was coming back to re-specialise at Fullback… then I would be far more interested…
Butch’s time has come and gone!
Oh, and anything Manie says, I take with a pinch of salt…
How many rumours have we heard about this and that player… only for them to confirm they’re staying at the Sharks or wherever… think John Smit, J P Pietersen…
… and for how long does an open chequebook stay open…. it is not a bottomless pit…
John Mitchell will already see to it, with current players at his disposal, that the Lions are much more competative in the Super 15 than they were under the hapless Tricky Dicky this year in the Super 14.
Anyway, off to go eat out…. see you tomorrow.
butch is ver te veel op sick leave,om miljoene te betaal is belaglik.frans steyn kan goed skop maar is op die oomlik overrated.
Also read they might want to lure Vermeulen and Juan de Jongh…
They should rather invest in guys that are not yet “stars”.
Like van der Heever from the Bulls. And what about a second scrummie? Vermaak is the real del, but after that?
Anywa, as far as fullback, inside and flyhalf goes, the Lions have Jantjies, Le Grange and Killian. Back ups are Marius Delport, Francis and Herjie Kruger.
Ok, not the who’s who of world rugby, but under Mitchelle it could still go well.
Question… Hoffman left WP and Stormers to get more opportunities at the Sharks… how is that gonna work out when the Sharks already have Charl and Rory?
Does that mean Rory’s days are finally done? AND could we possibly see him move to the Kings?
Have never understood the obsession with Butch James. At best an average player. Big risk investment, like Christiaan Scholtz of old and Andre Pretorius. Always out of action.
Voel jammer vir Kockott. Ek like die ventjie nie veel nie, maar hy’s ‘n goeie speler, en na sy eerste af-seisoen, wil almal hom pos. Hy kan maar WP toe kom, Sharkies kan daai overhyped Hoffman kry. Weet nie waaaroor almal so liries raak oor hom nie.
wat die lions soek met has been butch james sal net hulle weet.hoekom kry hulle nie liewer vir barrit of shalk brits van die uk af nie?
ek stem saam. dit gaan darem maar baie geld kos om een van die twee in SA te kry. Frans Steyn kan mens darem nog sien as ‘n belegging vir die toekoms.
stel dit so, ek is bly die Bulle is nie die unie wat geld wil opdok vir die twee nie. Maar met ‘n oog op die WB2011, sal dit goed wees om die twee in SA te he.
en as steyn wel terugkeer, moet hy heelagter speel. soos wat hy op hierdie toer moes heelagter speel. hy speel bitter min daar vir racing, indien ooit. en snor gaan hom nou weer op 15 wil speel in WB. hy kort so veel as moontlik tyd daar.
@ Greenpoint-Gunner 5:
Hey Gunner, you leave vd Heever alone right where he belongs. They already took Francis and Delport from us and have really utilized them as much as they should have. Not sure if many of my fellow Bulls fans feel the same but I thought those two had something about them a few years ago and feel a bit disapointed that they haven’t pushed on and realized their potential.
By the way does the last part of your ‘nic’ refer to which English football team you support?
Bullscot,
Van den Heever is another dud, only things special about him is that he’s a white wing. Francis is very underrated though, but you did well letting Giraffe Delport go…
12@ Rugbyprof:
Van den Heever was good in the Super 14 but did not impress me in the Currie Cup whatsoever.
Francis to me is just another average flyhalf… nothing special. I don’t even think he’s as good as Naas Olivier… and Naas is not exactly shit-hot, is he.
This Naas is not baas! He is shite!Who’s that guy that kicked the kak out of WP last year in the cc at Loftus? He’s not too bad?
@ Bullscot:
Haha, Bullscot, I thought someone might be upset with Van der Heever leaving. But anyway, that boy looks really good.
As for the unner part, here is where the name comes from.
When they were still building the Cape Town stadium a friend suggested that maybe the Greenpoint should get their own team. So the name Greenpoint Gunners came up, with the Gunners referring to the canon on Signal hill that overlooks the Stadium… and there you go.
GBS, How can you say that the anything the erstwhile CEO of Lions Rugby (PTY) LTD should be taken with a pinch of salt?
Probeer maar sewe sakke sout!
Mr Reyneke did promise that he would bring 5 or 6 top class players to JHB, and with “King Carlos” hanging up his boots, they are desperately in need of another geriatric flyhalf with shagged out knees, a rapidly extending 100m time and a not insignificant salary bill.
Have money, will spend! (Even if it is on sh1t)
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