Lions trying to steal Beast!!!

[JJR]

Since The Sharks went to court to get Louis Ludik and Willem Alberts out of their Lions contracts to allow them to play for The Sharks, The Lions having been attempting to get us back. Even after we released waylon Murray, Patric Cilliers and Michael Rhodes to them. They took Lionel Mapoe from under our noses before he could even play for us after training with us for 3 or so months. They have also gone after John Smit,Jp Pieterson and Ryan Kankowski, but fortunately they denied an offer to move for money and followed their hearts, signing new contracts with The Sharks or just sticking by their current contracts. Now it seems The Lions new Billionaire owner has offered Beast a huge amount and is going to fight in court so that the Sharks release Beast from his contract (3 years). The Lions do claim there are loopholes in his contract, but we will see. What do you guys think about all this crazy money being flung around? We can't let Rugby be run by enormous amounts of cash like Football; what happened to loyalty and playing 4 the jersey...the guys make very good money currently, why these crazy amounts. I love the professional era, the rugby has improved/grown greatly in all aspects and including The Players physically/mentally, but is this going a bit too far (earning 8m+ Rand a year). Great if players still play for The jersey and are loyal to the contracts they signed, but when they start looking for a way out just for some crazy amounts of money is disturbing. You can earn well, but loyalty to your Club/province should be first on the list; that is being a true professional!!

 

[Seaton]

To be fair Beast hasn't made any public statements, and I'm not one whom takes for granted that newspapers say "His agent has profusely denied that a new contract was signed, yada yada yada"

With all the legal battles we have had just this year, I'm confident the Union has made water-tight contracts, but one loophole might exist in that if the management team has told Beast "You are our first choice loosehead" , whilst at the same time making the same promises (except different positions) to Bismarck, Jannie and possibly Smit

If such a promise of gametime exists in Beast's new contract, well then given that Smit has to play sometime and somewhere, and he played fairly solidly at 1 last year, well then I assume you get the picture.


Let's hope I'm wrong and that the Sharks had top lawyers drawing up the contracts

 

[JJR]

To be fair Beast hasn't made any public statements, and I'm not one whom takes for granted that newspapers say "His agent has profusely denied that a new contract was signed, yada yada yada"

With all the legal battles we have had just this year, I'm confident the Union has made water-tight contracts, but one loophole might exist in that if the management team has told Beast "You are our first choice loosehead" , whilst at the same time making the same promises (except different positions) to Bismarck, Jannie and possibly Smit

If such a promise of gametime exists in Beast's new contract, well then given that Smit has to play sometime and somewhere, and he played fairly solidly at 1 last year, well then I assume you get the picture.


Let's hope I'm wrong and that the Sharks had top lawyers drawing up the contracts

Ja, guess you are right; many guys close to Beast have said that he has told them he is keen on the move and that really tiks me off after what we have done for Beast.
I mean he signed the 3 year contract...so stick to it.

 

[JJR]

I would also want more money if possible, but The Sharks look after their players very well, they all get paid fairly and based on what they are worth to the team and their performances. But, Beast signed a 3 year contract just a little while ago...so really does not make sense why he wants out just for some extra cash. I don't mind if he is going for Rugby reasons, but i don't think he is...in saying that there is no confimation of this; but the rumours coming from people close to The Sharks are getting louder.

 

[JJR]

Slightly off the topic...Top rules of a Professional Rugby Player.

1.Give your best for your club/province
2.Train at your best in the Gym and on the field.(Stick to your gym/workout programme)
3.Make sure your nutritional guide is followed at all times and correct supplementation is used.
4.Honour your contract
5.Play 4 your team mates, the jersey and the fans.

Well that is what i would do and did while i was contracted...

 

[Cthulhu]

I definitely agree with those rules but lots of pros don't its quite sad, but they also have too look after themselves and go with whats in there best interest. Money changes people, Lions are also trying get Butch James see if that happens. It don't really bother me look at the Lions last year if they have to pump and ton of money into that team in order for them to get wins well then thats what they gotta do, just hope they don't get out of control. In the end its the players decision but yea play for your club and try to be the best for them well said but could you say no to a lot of money? honestly

 

[Seaton]

There is an article in the local rag today that, with interviews with Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl, that says that Beast will definitely be with the Sharks this year

The CEO says that the apparent 'loopholes' in Beast's contract were in relation to sections that had not been signed, but were irrelevant to the basic contract.

So basically Beast signed the basic contract, but still needs to pen a few initials with regards to other minor details, which have no bearing on the validility of the contract


Beasty stays B)

 

[nickdnz]

Slightly off the topic...Top rules of a Professional Rugby Player.

1.Give your best for your club/province
2.Train at your best in the Gym and on the field.(Stick to your gym/workout programme)
3.Make sure your nutritional guide is followed at all times and correct supplementation is used.
4.Honour your contract
5.Play 4 your team mates, the jersey and the fans.

Well that is what i would do and did while i was contracted...

Contracted to whom? The rules stipulated in that contract look like they were written by a 6 year old.

A contract that says honour your contract?
1 and 5 are pretty much the same thing.

If Beast is no longer able to start for the Sharks, it seems a waste to keep him in the team. The Lions are a struggling team, with a bit of money, of course they are going after big name players.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

If the Lions got Quade Cooper or even one of my fave Reds players, I'd be happy for them, struggling teams trying to get higher on the ladder is one of the most exciting aspects of super rugby.

 

[JJR]

Official Beast is staying at The Sharks...was offered the top contract that The Sharks can give and has a 3 year contract. Good choice Beast. Glad being able retain one of the best loosehead props in world rugby.

 

[JJR]

Contracted to whom? The rules stipulated in that contract look like they were written by a 6 year old.

A contract that says honour your contract?
1 and 5 are pretty much the same thing.

If Beast is no longer able to start for the Sharks, it seems a waste to keep him in the team. The Lions are a struggling team, with a bit of money, of course they are going after big name players.

That was not in the contract...were did you come up with that; that is what one of my coaches gave me as a guideline to stay on track. I had a junior contract...eg. u19.

 

[JJR]

If the Lions got Quade Cooper or even one of my fave Reds players, I'd be happy for them, struggling teams trying to get higher on the ladder is one of the most exciting aspects of super rugby.

It is great when they do try to do it fairly, but Beast signed a 3 year contract with The Sharks just 2 months ago...at least The Sharks and their sponsors have managed to retain his services. Lions are gonna take Andre Pretorius it seems...Sharks don't need him, we signed 3 extra players that can either play 10 or cover the position; were very good signings i might add.

 

[JJR]

I definitely agree with those rules but lots of pros don't its quite sad, but they also have too look after themselves and go with whats in there best interest. Money changes people, Lions are also trying get Butch James see if that happens. It don't really bother me look at the Lions last year if they have to pump and ton of money into that team in order for them to get wins well then thats what they gotta do, just hope they don't get out of control. In the end its the players decision but yea play for your club and try to be the best for them well said but could you say no to a lot of money? honestly

Earning well is not a problem...Beast earns a lot at The Sharks; the problem is trying to get out of a contract you signed for some extra cash...he wants to make the dicision based only on money...not on ethics,loyalty and rugby reasons...eg. if he did leave..which he is not, he would have broken up The bokke front row...his chances of starting 4 boks would most likely gone down if he went north. The Sharks always seem to be a good place to be if you want to break into the springbok team.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am happy that Mtawarira is staying in Durban. This way we keep a complete Bok frontrow. Andre Pretorius played for the Lions before and like JJR said, we have plenty of choices for the nr. 10 jersey with Lambie, JL Potgieter and some young talent.

Now he can bore the Lions-fans with his mud playing before taking a penalty or conversion The Lions should try and sign some overseas South Africans who want to return or focus on benchwarmers of other SA clubs. John Smit would do good in JHB but they should realise that a player who is considered a regular starter in the Stormers/Bulls/Sharks team, won't be interested in the Lions. They tried to sign Kankowski, Pietersen, Bekker, van den Heever and others but those players would like to play for a serious chance of winning the Super15 and Currie Cup which, to be honest, is only a realistic opportunity for the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls

 

[JJR]

I am happy that Mtawarira is staying in Durban. This way we keep a complete Bok frontrow. Andre Pretorius played for the Lions before and like JJR said, we have plenty of choices for the nr. 10 jersey with Lambie, JL Potgieter and some young talent.

Now he can bore the Lions-fans with his mud playing before taking a penalty or conversion The Lions should try and sign some overseas South Africans who want to return or focus on benchwarmers of other SA clubs. John Smit would do good in JHB but they should realise that a player who is considered a regular starter in the Stormers/Bulls/Sharks team, won't be interested in the Lions. They tried to sign Kankowski, Pietersen, Bekker, van den Heever and others but those players would like to play for a serious chance of winning the Super15 and Currie Cup which, to be honest, is only a realistic opportunity for the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls

They trying to get Butchy and Frans steyn, but i don't think they will be able to get Steyn...Butch there is a chance because he wants to come back.
When john retires and eugene van staden...cos he is like 30 (3-4 years left); we should try to then get Heinke van der merwe...always rated his scrummaging and as we know we base a lot of what we do on a solid scrum. But 4 now i am very happy with our squad; if we don't win this Superrugby title with the squad we have now then i will be very dissapointed. We have lost in i think 3/4 finals now...it is our turn to win it.

 

[JJR]

There is an article in the local rag today that, with interviews with Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl, that says that Beast will definitely be with the Sharks this year

The CEO says that the apparent 'loopholes' in Beast's contract were in relation to sections that had not been signed, but were irrelevant to the basic contract.

So basically Beast signed the basic contract, but still needs to pen a few initials with regards to other minor details, which have no bearing on the validility of the contract


Beasty stays B)

Wish i was in Durbs...i love the papers there, obviously a lot of Sharks stuff.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Buying Pretorius and James would be stupid considering you have some amazing talent in Elton Jantjies for that position

 

[Cthulhu]

Andre Pretorius played for the Lions before and like JJR said, we have plenty of choices for the nr. 10 jersey with Lambie, JL Potgieter and some young talent. Now he can bore the Lions-fans with his mud playing before taking a penalty or conversion

Pretorius pre kick routine is awesome, I like the kicking from the sand he's one of the few players that still do it and I give him tons of respect for keeping it alive it's unique and I like that

 

[Amobokoboko]

Good for the Sharks he decided to stay altho a move to the lions would be good so they could improve their team as well

 

[Cthulhu]

Good for the Sharks he decided to stay altho a move to the lions would be good so they could improve their team as well

yeah cos if the Lions don't step it up we could see Southern Kings replace them unless they just join. But it would be sad to see Jo'burgs team not in the comp, never understood how the Golden Lions stay competitive in the Currie Cup but when they play super rugby there a complete disgrace same goes to you Cheetahs