Springbok players hoping to ply their trade outside South Africa will not be released from contracts they hold inside the country.
That was the South African Rugby Football Union's (Sarfu) stern warning after they met with Western Province officials regarding the proposed moves of Springboks Cobus Visagie and Braam van Straaten to Leeds Tykes.
Visagie is contracted to Sarfu until the end of the year and to Western Province until the end of October 2003, while Van Straaten's agreements terminate at the end of October and December with his provincial and national employers respectively.
Sarfu's chief executive and managing director of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd Rian Oberholzer adopted an obstinate approach on the player's local contracts.
"We are very concerned that the correct procedures are not being followed in these matters," Oberholzer said.
"The regulations of the IRB (International Rugby Board) and Sarfu have not been adhered to which has created problems for all parties concerned. These cases will be reported to the IRB and we will remain vigilant to ensure there are no similar cases in future."
Joost van der Westhuizen, meanwhile, may determine his own fate after Newport boss Tony Brown said he would not hold the player to the contract he signed with the club earlier this year.
Brown told the Pretoria News that the club would not pursue the matter if the player did not want to honour his contract in Wales.
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