The big 'political' exodus has started
Rugby365 editor Jan de Koning looks at what appears to be the start of a mass exodus of players to Europe and asks if it is linked to political interference?
Victor Matfield claims to have not yet signed with ambitious French club Toulon, but it is obvious that the mass exodus of South Africa’s top stars has begun.
Two of South Africa’s traditional powerhouses – the Blue Bulls and Western Province – finally went on record with the not so fresh news that the French raids on the southern hemisphere will hit South Africa as hard as it will, and already has, New Zealand.
Whilst the Bulls maintain that they are still fighting to hold onto their players, WP have confirmed the departure of three senior players – centre De Wet Barry and forwards Joe Van Niekerk and Gerrie Britz.
Barry has signed with London-based club Harlequins, Van Niekerk has signed with English club Northampton Saints, who are now in Division One, and Britz is moving to French club Perpignan.
But that is not where it ends.
The Bulls have confirmed that hooker Gary Botha, who starts his first Test against the All Blacks on Saturday, is on the shopping list of several French and United Kingdom clubs.
Loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg has also been approached by a number of French and UK clubs, whilst talented lock Francois van Schouwenburg is talking to French clubs.
Talk of a mass post-World Cup exodus has been doing the rounds for some time, but players and officials have taken the ostrich approach to this so far.
The fact that they have gone public with these details suggests that the exodus may already be in full swing.
You can only wonder how much of this has to do with the interference of politicians and the suggestions that future Springbok teams will be a lot darker.
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