TELFORD VICE, Durban | Thursday 11.50am
THE Natal Rugby Union (NRU) is happy to release its Springboks from playing in the Currie Cup play-offs – but will expect “suitable compensation” from the SA Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) for doing so.
Natal had been under the impression that after the Tri-Nations tournament the Springbok players would return to their provinces, which would be at full strength for the latter rounds of the Currie Cup.
However, Nick Mallett’s request that the Boks be removed from domestic competition with a view to the higher priority of World Cup preparations upset Natal’s applecart, and there had been murmurs of the NRU taking a stand on the issue.
But chief executive Brian van Zyl said on Thursday: “The NRU has agreed to release all its Springbok players selected for the World Cup squad, with effect from September 1, to enable them to adequately prepare for the defence of their World Cup crown in Wales.”
The Currie Cup semi-finals, in which the Sharks are likely to feature, are scheduled for September 4 with the final due to be played a week later.
However, Van Zyl was adamant that was not the end of the matter. “In reaching this decision, and provided of course that the Natal Sharks do indeed qualify for the play-offs, the NRU will certainly be seeking suitable compensation from Sarfu as a result of their being unable to honour their original commitment to the unions with regard to the release of Springbok players for the Currie Cup,” Van Zyl said.
Other provinces are equally upset about the absence of their top players.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) may also seek compensation from Sarfu next season if they continue to lose the services of top international players.
At the end of 1998 T The GLRU has seen little service of players form its 1998 end of season sprending spree. Free Staters Rassie Erasmus, Willie Meyer, Werner Swanepoel and AJ Venter have not seen much action in the competition because of Springbok commitments and in the case of Erasmus, he has not worn the red-hooped jersey once. — MWP