Francois Steyn

Francois Steyn

The SA Rugby Union (Saru) has denied reports that it had reneged on a contractual promise made to Springbok fullback Frans Steyn which led to his sudden withdrawal from the national squad on Tuesday evening.

“I can confirm that there was a dispute over mechanisms by which one element of Frans’s Springbok remuneration was to be paid,” Saru chief executive Jurie Roux said in a statement on Thursday.

“That issue was addressed. Some minor details remain to be sorted out, but they are not of such a scale as to be a cause for a major upheaval.”

It was reported on Thursday that the player’s father, Piet Steyn, told the newspaper that Saru did not adhere to an agreement that was made prior to him leaving French club Racing Metro in 2012.

“We have an agreement with players in respect of the rights of both employer and employee not to publicly discuss any contractual situation and I will not breach that,” Roux said.

“However, allegations have been made that affect the reputation of the South African Rugby Union and Frans Steyn, as an employee and person, and they cannot go unchallenged.”

On Tuesday, Saru said in a statement that Steyn was released from the Springbok squad at his own request and he did not wish to be considered for the Incoming Series which kicks off this weekend against Wales in Durban.

Steyn is expected to take up a contract in Japan at the end of the Super Rugby campaign and would be available for the Sharks once the June internationals were completed.

“Out of respect for Frans’s wishes, whatever other considerations may have been on his mind are not for me to discuss,” Roux said.

“I look forward to his return to playing in the near future in Vodacom Super Rugby as he has been a good servant to the Springboks and his franchise.”

66 Responses to Frans Steyn saga: SARU challenges media reports

  • 1

    we know that you don’t want to hang the dirty washing out in public Mr Roux. Otherwise you would be telling the truth about the massive fraud you’ve been accused of during your time at Stellenbosch.

    I’m surprised you didn’t run for government in the election last month.

    BOX.

  • 2

    Not sure what to make from this debacle. Sure if promises were made that had Franns give up a huge French contract then those promises need to honoured.

    On the other hand -as Naas used to say- playing for the boks had huge advertising contractual benefits with all sorts of companies/products. Frans could have negotiated all sorts of arrangements to make up the lost money. How many players in our rugby history made no cent out of rugby. How many players today will play for for no money just for the honour to present their country?

    I don’t think this is only about money. There have to be more to it.

    In the final analysis SARU management again look like a bunch of arsholes.

    This whole is utterly disgusting no matter from which angle you look at it.

  • 3

    Hello McLook, long time ou Kalahari!

    In today’s ‘ Burger’ it is reported that Roux said it wasn’t about the money, but the ‘mechanism’ of payment. Thinking

  • 4

    @ Pietman:
    Sounds fishy to me…..

  • 5

    De Jongh ruled out for the June tests as well, for all 3, so we are down to Jan and JP, with JJ fit?

    So many injuries to out top centers and one derelict gone on walkabout.
    He certainly picked the perfect time to give his Bok team mates a good old up yours.

  • 6

    2 @ McLook:
    It does tend to make SA Rugby look somewhat “cheap” doesn’t it.

    But then again, that in itself is nothin new.

    5 @ nortierd:
    Maybe deliberately picked for maximum impact?

  • 7

    Stormersboy wrote:

    @ Pietman:
    Sounds fishy to me…..

    ‘Fishy’, as in ‘Sharkish’? Happy-Grin

    (Now if THAT doesn’t get Puma and SF over here pronto you have to start thinking they left for good!)

  • 8

    @ Pietman:
    😀 😀 😀

  • 9

    Pietman wrote:

    Now if THAT doesn’t get Puma and SF over here pronto you have to start thinking they left for good!

    I think they’re STILL sitting at Kings Park crying into their long empty plastic beer cups in disbelief.

    They’ll log on tomorrow morning when the staff eventually kick them out in time for the test.

  • 10

    nortierd @ 5
    SOS De Wet Barry? … well if victor can do it …. Happy-Grin

  • 11

    OK. Time to go make some Chillie Con Carne with a bit of bite.

    Something to get the women crying into their laps on Friday the 13th.

    Punish the wenches I say.

  • 12

    scrumdown @ 9
    Overjoy

  • 13

    scrumdown @ 11
    vir een of ander rede sien ek jou nou met jou kort broekie, langkouse met kam in, langs jou Toyota bakkie
    terwyl jy “chilli con carde” in so ñ ou soet stemmetjie sê
    met die handjies wat so fyntjies na die kante toe staan! Sad

  • 14

    #13
    ek dink dit sal dalk nou ñ goeie idee wees om hierdie emoticon Afraid te gebruik!

  • 15

    @Scrumdown 6

    Possible, very possible.

    I hope Jan has a blinder tomorrow

  • 16

    nortierd wrote:

    @Scrumdown 6

    Possible, very possible.

    I hope Jan has a blinder tomorrow

    He is up against Jamie Roberts…sal sy storie moet ken…hy sal moet tekkel vir dood, nie soen nie, daai ou is nie Julia Roberts nie….

  • 17

    Ashley wrote:

    nortierd @ 5
    SOS De Wet Barry? … well if victor can do it ….

    He he

    Ten miste was Barry net op die veld ongeskik

  • 18

    @Pietman

    He will be alright, he mos has Morne next to him to watch his back
    😀

  • 19

    nortierd @ 17
    Overjoy

  • 20

    @ Ashley:
    De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert were a potent combo in their Boland days!
    Ouens vrek ge-tekkel…

  • 21

    The Boks are at 1:6 to win it in the match betting, it was trimmed back form 1:11 earlier this week, it tells me that Styen’s debacle clearly affected the odds, still they projected an easy victory for the Boks

    http://sports.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/Rugby-Union/International-MatchesRugby-Union/International-Matches-t210001402

    And all the best in future Fransie

  • 22

    Gatland stated that nothing other than a 2-0 whitewash will be acceptable for him.

  • 23

    Scrumdown wrote:

    2 @ McLook:
    It does tend to make SA Rugby look somewhat “cheap” doesn’t it.

    But then again, that in itself is nothin new.

    5 @ nortierd:
    Maybe deliberately picked for maximum impact?

    Yip SARU has that ability look like schoolboys; arrogant and immature.

  • 24

    Must say I am disappointed in Frans Steyn. I thought is all grown-up now. Behaving like a spoiled bratt is not helping him or SA rugby.

  • 25

    I really hope Jan Serfontein doesn’t turn into the second Gaffie tomorrow.

  • 26

    So it appears Frans Steyn sold his brand name rights to a third party in France. Before he returned from Racing Metro, he was apparently made a promise by Andy Marinos, commercial manager at SARU, that SARU would pay for these brand name rights.

    It appears this has not been done – with Jurie Roux claiming there is a dispute over the “mechanisms” by which payment is made.

  • 27

    13 @ Ashley:
    Nog nooit n Toyota bakkie gehad nie, ook nie n Safari Pak nie en met my No 2 haarstyl het ek nog nooit n kam besit nie.

    Die een gooie ding is my klient betaal my n gooie klompie geld om vir n uur in die kombuis te staan en die mense in sy departement kos te maak.

    Is die lewe nie wonderlik nie?

    Even more so as die Lions nie die naweek kan verloor nie!

    Approve

  • 28

    @26 WPTID

    We were speculating yesterday as to when SARU actually used his brand name.

    I have seen him in that Sharks ad where they all pay homage to the ex Sharks players, but that about it.

    When the Springboks do an ad for Supersport to advertise a coming series, it’s usually all the senior or contracted players that take part in that. Did he expect a higher payment for such a type of ad?

    Must he be paid if SA Rugby want to do an article on him and want to publish photos?

    I don’t get this image rights at all, without the Boks having selected him, he wouldn’t have had an image.

    And after this saga, I doubt he has an image left, except in Durban where the Shark fans love him even more now that he has put them above his country.

    Good luck to him in the future….as long as that future never ever includes a springbok jersey again

  • 29

    @ nortierd:

    Speaking of Sharks fans – where are they? Sharkslover, Puma?

  • 30

    @ WP Till I Die:
    Howzit boet, long time!!

    How you been keeping?

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