Bakkies's bold French move

Editor

The mass exodus of Bulls to cash-flush European clubs gained further momentum at the weekend with news that lock forward Bakkies Botha wants to join his long-time second row partner Victor Matfield at Toulon in France.

The mass exodus of Bulls to cash-flush European clubs gained further momentum at the weekend with news that lock forward Bakkies Botha wants to join his long-time second row partner Victor Matfield at Toulon in France.

Botha, who played a record 26 Tests with fellow World Cup winner Matfield, wants to be released from his contract with the Bulls so he can join the ambitious French Second Division outfit.

Bulls Chief Executive Barend van Graan confirmed on Sunday that Botha had requested to be “released” from his contract.

“We have a contract with Bakkies [Botha] till 2011 and he is big asset to us,” Van Graan told rugby365.com.

“He [Botha] informed us of his request [to move to Toulon] and we are in discussion with him,” Van Graan said, adding that there is no time frame on when they will make an announcement.

Botha's decision to move abroad would leave gaping hole in the Bulls' second row resources – having already lost Matfield, Francois van Schouwenburg, Cliff Milton and Adriaan Fondse.

As it is, Toulon already have seven South Africans on their books – Matfield, Van Schouwenburg, Wessel Roux, Lawrence Sephaka, Norman Jordaan, Chris Rossouw and Nico Breedt.

There is still some uncertainty about Matfield's position. He has indicated that he wants to return to South Africa, but the time of his arrival back home is unconfirmed.

He initially wanted to return in March, but when Heyneke Meyer did not get the Springbok coaching position, that fell through. It now appears Matfield may only return at the end of the French domestic season in June.

Botha – who is still struggling to overcome an ankle injury, suffered on South Africa's post-World Cup year-end tour – is likely to miss the first few weeks of Super 14 action.

And Toulon wants Botha to join them early in April, meaning he won't be playing too many games for the defending Super 14 champions.

It is believed that the French club has offered Botha a two-year, €350,000 (almost ZAR4-million) a year deal.

By Jan de Koning