Demetri Catrakilis
Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis is the latest player linked to a move abroad, with French club Montpellier reportedly his destination. (Also see Update below)
Montpellier, currently coached by World Cup-winning former Springbok mentor Jake White, has been linked to a host of South African players – including the Du Plessis brothers Jannie and Bismarck.
Montpellier also secured the services of Wallaby scrumhalf Nic White, who will join them next season and be reunited with his former club coach White.
According to the French media the 24-year-old Brumbies No 9, White, has – along with Catrakilis – signed a 2-year contract with the option of extending it by a further year.
Catrakilis, 25, and who is also a player Jake White knows, was a star for Western Province in last year’s victorious Currie Cup campaign.
He will ostensibly serve as back-up for first choice France international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc.
Jake White, who guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup trophy, replaced former France captain Fabien Galthie as coach at the end of last year after the latter was suspended by club president Mohed Altrad.
He signed a 6-month deal at Montpellier, but recently indicated that it could be extended to 2 years.
Montpellier’s season has been in decline since Trinh-Duc broke his leg in a Top 14 match in early October.
They have been knocked out of the European Champions Cup and are presently 8th in the Top 14, 2 places outside the play-off spots.
If the reports are accurate then Catrakilis will arrive from South Africa to link up in France with several other South Africans at Montpellier – including Robert Ebersohn and Wynand Olivier.
Montpellier have however continued to deny any speculation linking them with a move for Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis.
Update:
There is no chance of an early release for Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, who is being courted by French club Montpellier.
Montpellier, currently coached by World Cup-winning former Springbok mentor Jake White, has been linked to a host of South African players – including the Du Plessis brothers Jannie and Bismarck.
Montpellier also secured the services of Wallaby scrumhalf Nic White, who will join them next season and be reunited with his former club coach White.
The most recent round of speculation suggested that Montpellier will be willing to pay a massive transfer fee to ensure Catrakilis arrive in France ahead of the 2015 / 2016 season.
However, Western Province Director of Rugby Gert Smal made it clear there is no chance of this happening.
Without confirming that Catrakilis will depart at the end of the year, Smal said there is a precedent for not giving into the enormous amounts of money being waved around by French clubs.
“Demetri is contracted until the end of 2015, which includes both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup,” Smal said.
“We would like to ensure that all our players see out their contracts – as was the case with Pat Cilliers and Brok Harris last year.”
He also cast doubt over the reports that the flyhalf would leave at the end of the year, even if he is not afforded an early release.
“There certainly seems to be a lot of speculation at present in the world of rugby, most notably from Europe,” Smal said.
“WP Rugby will, as always, make announcements or comment on announcements only when they have actually been fully ratified by us.”
Catrakilis, 25, will ostensibly serve as back-up for first choice France international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc.
Jake White, who guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup trophy, replaced former France captain Fabien Galthie as coach at the end of last year after the latter was suspended by club president Mohed Altrad.
He signed a 6-month deal at Montpellier, but recently indicated that it could be extended to 2 years.
Montpellier’s season has been in decline since Trinh-Duc broke his leg in a Top 14 match in early October.
They have been knocked out of the European Champions Cup and are presently eighth in the Top 14, two places outside the play-off spots.
If Catrakilis does decide to leave Cape Town, then he will link up in France with several other South Africans at Montpellier – including Robert Ebersohn and Wynand Olivier.
rugby365
Careful Demetri, Jake the Snake does not care about anything else but Jake the Snake… remember that!
He better leave now if he wants to work with White
Jake has been there for a month, only five months more and he’s gone again
2 @ Victoriabok:
Jake wants a 2-year stint… he’s likely to get it… and then drop Montpellier halfway through!
Do you know when Demetri will leave, now or after S15?
4 @ Victoriabok:
No idea!
4 @ Victoriabok:
See here:
There is no chance of an early release for Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, who is being courted by French club Montpellier.
Montpellier, currently coached by World Cup-winning former Springbok mentor Jake White, has been linked to a host of South African players – including the Du Plessis brothers Jannie and Bismarck.
Montpellier also secured the services of Wallaby scrumhalf Nic White, who will join them next season and be reunited with his former club coach White.
The most recent round of speculation suggested that Montpellier will be willing to pay a massive transfer fee to ensure Catrakilis arrive in France ahead of the 2015/16 season.
However, Western Province Director of Rugby Gert Smal made it clear there is no chance of this happening.
Without confirming that Catrakilis will depart at the end of the year, Smal said there is a precedent for not giving into the enormous amounts of money being waved around by French clubs.
“Demetri is contracted until the end of 2015, which includes both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup,” Smal said.
“We would like to ensure that all our players see out their contracts – as was the case with Pat Cilliers and Brok Harris last year.”
He also cast doubt over the reports that the flyhalf would leave at the end of the year, even if he is not afforded an early release.
“There certainly seems to be a lot of speculation at present in the world of rugby [in terms of player movement], most notably from Europe,” Smal said.
“WP Rugby will, as always, make announcements or comment on announcements only when they have actually been fully ratified by us.”
Catrakilis, 25, will ostensibly serve as back-up for first choice France international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc.
Jake White, who guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup trophy, replaced former France captain Fabien Galthie as coach at the end of last year after the latter was suspended by club president Mohed Altrad.
He signed a six-month deal at Montpellier, but recently indicated that it could be extended to two years.
Montpellier’s season has been in decline since Trinh-Duc broke his leg in a Top 14 match in early October.
They have been knocked out of the European Champions Cup and are presently eighth in the Top 14, two places outside the play-off spots.
If Catrakilis does decide to leave Cape Town, then he will link up in France with several other South Africans at Montpellier – including Robert Ebersohn and Wynand Olivier.
Victoriabok wrote:
He is contracted at WP till the end of the year.
He will probably finish the SR and if Montpellier pay a transfer fee join up before the CC.
WP have Coleman and Du Preez to cover 10 for the rest of the year.
At least, that is the thinking
7 @ nortie:
Hi nortie is that him contracted till the end of year as in 31st December 2015 or the end of WP/Stormers 2015 rugby season whenever that may be. It may seem a daft question but it could make a difference as if there is a few months or even a month’s difference between the two times it could scupper his move, not sure Montpellier would want to sign a player who will only be available a few months after their season has started especially in World Cup year when he could be filling in for Tin Duck who may be away with France then.
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