Catrakilis to Kings not a done deal
Reports that Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis will join the Southern Kings at the conclusion of this year's Currie Cup appear to be premature.
Catrakilis, who will be the starting No.10 when WP take on Griquas in a Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley on Saturday, was even quoted in the reports that said he had already signed with the new Super Rugby franchise.
The Kings were awarded Super Rugby status in controversial fashion on Thursday and within hours reports of the flyhalf's departure from Cape Town appeared in the media.
"I'm very excited to start my journey at the Kings," Catrakilis – who did not make the Stormers' final Super Rugby squad this year – was quoted as saying.
However, Rob Wagner, CEO WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd, dismissed the report as "a bit premature".
"He is still playing for us and it caught me by surprise, because as late as yesterday afternoon I was still negotiating with his agent," Wagner told this website.
"We have a contract with him [Catrakilis] till the end of the season, and as I said, as late as yesterday afternoon I was still negotiating with his agent."
Wagner said he spoke to the young flyhalf's agent even after the reports appeared in the media.
"His agent told me: 'We are still in negotiations.'
"His agent wouldn't have negotiated with me yesterday if he had already signed the contract… he would be wasting his time and he would be wasting my time to come sit in my office if he had already signed.
"It is very confusing for us.
"I have to work in good faith with the agent and at this point in time he is still talking to me about a contract for Demetri."
The 23-year-old Catrakilis, who first shot to prominence playing for the University of Cape Town in last year's Varsity Cup, has struggled to crack the nod at Super Rugby level in Cape Town – with Peter Grant, Gary van Aswegen and Burton Francis ahead of him in the pecking order.
By Jan de Koning
