The Lions and Sharks have both upped the ante as the tug-of-war for the services of iconic Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira drags on into the festive season.

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Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk last week said that Mtawarira is on the cash-flush Lions’ wish-list, but there is no formal offer yet.

Now GLRU CEO Manie Reyneke has taken it a step further by saying the prop’s move to Johannesburg is almost a fete accompli.

“I’m confident he will also be running out for us next year,” Reyneke said on the GLRU’s official website.

That statement has gone down like a lead balloon with officials in Durban, who are adamant that Mtawarira has signed a new three-year contract and can’t move to Johannesburg.

“He signed a three-year contract with us a few months ago,” Sharks coach John Plumtree told the Mercury newspaper.

“Why would he do that if he was unhappy?

“I suspect that there are outside influences at play here,” Plumtree added.
 
Reports suggested that Mtawarira has denied that his contract with the Sharks is binding.

However, Plumtree remains firmly of the opinion that it is.

Mtawarira was scheduled to return from London at the weekend and a meeting with the Sharks early next week is likely to shed some light on his status.

The Sharks are in the midst of a two-week break, before they resume pre-season training on January 3.

The Lions’ recruitment drive – which has already netted players like Rory Kockott (from the Sharks), Sevens Springbok Lionel Mapoe (Cheetahs), Bok hooker Bandise Maku (Bulls), scrumhalf Michael Bondesio (Leopards), prop Pat Cilliers (Sharks) and flank Michael Rhodes (Sharks) – could also land big fish like Frans Steyn and Butch James.

Their desire to get a core of seasoned players to go with the exciting youngsters that did so well in the Currie Cup is apparently based on the recipe for Super Rugby success used by Super 14-winning coach Heyneke Meyer.

Meyer’s well-documented blueprint for Super Rugby success involves having 10 international players; depth in every position where the replacement is good enough to start a match; experienced leaders of whom five have captained a side at Super Rugby level; five players with 50 Currie Cup and Super Rugby caps to their credit; along with continuity in team selection.

Although the Lions are still some way off this ideal situation, the side of 2011 will be much more experienced if they manage to secure players of the calibre of James, Steyn and Mtawarira.