Pretoria - Blue Bulls high performance manager Ian Swartz said on Wednesday they were still expecting Springbok wing Bjorn Basson to join the union on November 1, as earlier announced, despite reports of possible legal action by the Cheetahs.
On Monday the Blue Bulls Company confirmed that Basson, who is the current leading try scorer in the Absa Currie Cup, signed a two year contract to play both Super 15 and Currie Cup rugby for the Pretoria-based union, which in turn had to pay a hefty early cancellation fee to Griquas in exchange for the player.
Swartz made the statement a day after Afrikaans daily Beeld reported that the fight for Basson to represent the Cheetahs in next year's Super Rugby competition was continuing.
According to the report, the Cheetahs - who paid 60% of the speedster's Super 14 salary - will be seeking legal advice on the matter to determine whether the Griqualand West Rugby Union (GWRU) had disregarded a policy with regards to the transfer of Super 14 players that had been agreed upon by the Cheetahs, Griquas and Griffons.
"That is an internal issue between Cheetahs and Griquas. We followed the right procedures and regulations and we are confident everything will be fine," said Swartz.
The Cheetahs are also fighting a legal battle with the Sharks to retain the services of wing Lionel Mapoe, who despite a court order preventing him from moving to Durban, has still not returned to the union.
On Monday the Blue Bulls Company confirmed that Basson, who is the current leading try scorer in the Absa Currie Cup, signed a two year contract to play both Super 15 and Currie Cup rugby for the Pretoria-based union, which in turn had to pay a hefty early cancellation fee to Griquas in exchange for the player.
Swartz made the statement a day after Afrikaans daily Beeld reported that the fight for Basson to represent the Cheetahs in next year's Super Rugby competition was continuing.
According to the report, the Cheetahs - who paid 60% of the speedster's Super 14 salary - will be seeking legal advice on the matter to determine whether the Griqualand West Rugby Union (GWRU) had disregarded a policy with regards to the transfer of Super 14 players that had been agreed upon by the Cheetahs, Griquas and Griffons.
"That is an internal issue between Cheetahs and Griquas. We followed the right procedures and regulations and we are confident everything will be fine," said Swartz.
The Cheetahs are also fighting a legal battle with the Sharks to retain the services of wing Lionel Mapoe, who despite a court order preventing him from moving to Durban, has still not returned to the union.