E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Contact Us

SOUTH AFRICA

News | Profile | Anthem | Fixtures | Results | Tickets

Bakkies Botha takes Bulls to court

Friday 25th April 2008

Come on: Bakkies Botha will ask the Labour Court in Johannesburg to set him free

In the latest chapter in the Bakkies Botha - Toulon - Bulls saga the Springbok lock is set to lock horns with his current employers in court next week.

The Bulls confirmed in a press release on Friday that Botha had turned to the Labour Court in Johannesburg in an attempt to have his contract with the Pretoria-based franchise declared null and void.

On Wednesday the court will consider Botha's arguments to be released form his contract which would allow him to join French Second Division outfit Toulon with whom he has also signed a contract.

Last year Botha extended his contract with the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd by five years as well as inking a new deal with SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd (the commercial arm of the South African Rugby Union - SARU).

Both organisations have stuck to their guns and refused to release the World Cup winner and as a result Botha has missed two deadlines to join Toulon where a lucrative deal awaits him.

Jonathan Stones, Chief Executive of SA Rugby, has not commented on whether Botha's Springbok contract was part of the court application.

The Blue Bulls Company said in a press release that Botha's application would be opposed.

The statement said that Botha would ask the labour court to declare his Blue Bulls contract invalid which would force the company to release him without prejudice of rights.

Botha has so far made no attempt to explain how it came to pass that he signed a deal with Toulon while still under contract in South Africa.

The Labour Court's findings may have far reaching consequences for rugby in South Africa, especially if Botha is released from his contractual commitments.

Botha is represented by Bernie Habana, who also negotiated the Blue Bulls contracts of Bryan Habana and Wynand Olivier which run until 2011 and are said to be almost identical to that of Botha.

Bryan Habana has already been the centre of much speculation and would no doubt be the target of various European clubs should the opportunity present itself.

It remains to be seen what influence Botha's court application has on his participation in the rest of the Bulls Super 14 season.