Ebersohn: Naka in the dark
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské said he is not aware of a formal decision by Springbok Robert Ebersohn to turn down a contract extension.
Media reports in Bloemfontein stated it as fact that Ebersohn will depart Bloemfontein at the end of the year to join Bulls Bok Wynand Olivier at Montpellier in France.
However, Drotské – speaking to this website from the team's training base in Sydney – said that while he has seen the media reports, he has not heard anything from the player himself.
"I am still waiting for confirmation," Drotské said, adding that the team is determined to avoid sideshows such as contract issues and want to focus on their Super Rugby play-off match against the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday.
The Cheetahs are based in Sydney and will only head to Canberra on Saturday.
"I don't want to get involved in contract issues at this stage – we are focussed on the Super Rugby [competition]."
Drotské said while his squad for 2014 has virtually been finalised, they are awaiting answers from two players – Ebersohn and fellow Bok squad member Piet van Zyl.
While Ebersohn will head to France if he does decide to turn down the Cheetahs' contract extension, Van Zyl is sitting with several offers from within South Africa.
Apart from the Cheetahs' offer to extend his stay in Bloemfontein, the Pretoria-born Van Zyl is also being courted by the Bulls and Stormers.
"My squad is virtually finalised," Drotské told this website, adding: At this stage I am just waiting for Piet [van Zyl] and Robert [Ebersohn] to make final decisions.
"As for the rest of the group I would like to retain, they have all resigned.
"We have made contract offers to Robert [Ebersohn] and Piet [van Zyl] and we are waiting on them for answers.
"They want to finish the Super Rugby season before giving us their answers."
By Jan de Koning
