Ryan Kankowski

Springbok loose forward Ryan Kankowski has been hit hard in the pocket, after he was ordered to pay R 322 500.00 to his former agent.

Kankowski was ordered to pay the amount to his previous management team, In Touch Sports, in an arbitration hearing that concluded on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old, capped 20 times for the Springboks, was also ordered to pay back interest on the amount from May 2010 until final settlement, plus legal fees.

The case was 1st heard in the High Court in Durban, but was later referred to arbitration by agreement between the parties.

Kankowski opposed the payment of the amount on the grounds that the terms of the contract were vague and confusing, and that the terms of the contract were unenforceable as certain terms thereof are in breach of the applicable World Rugby (previously IRB) or South African Rugby Union regulations.

He also stated that he contracted with a particular agent and not the management company, and that he was therefore entitled to terminate his contract when the agent left the employment of the company.

“We argued the terms of the contract were clear and that the money owed could therefore not be disputed,” said Riaan Venter, Director at Gildenhuys Malatji Incorporated, the law firm acting on behalf of In Touch Sports Management.

“The management company secured his contract with the Cell C Sharks and was therefore entitled to its commission in terms of the contract.”

The arbitrator found in favour of In Touch Sports Management and ordered Kankowski to pay the outstanding amount.

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