WP: No early departure for Catrakilis

Cape Town - Western Province have opted not to grant flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis an early release on his contract.

Catrakilis recently signed a two-year deal with French Top 14 side Montpellier but he will have to wait until after this year's Currie Cup before he joins them.

His contract with Western Province only expires after the Currie Cup and the Capetonians have opted to turn down a request to release the player early from his contract.

"There was a debate, but one of the issues was that the integrity of contracts would be undermined if every player just gets released (early)," WP coach John Dobson said at a press conference earlier this week.

"We'll gradually expose Robert du Preez in the Currie Cup and let Jean-Luc du Plessis work with Robbie Fleck (WP Under-21 coach)."

Catrakilis was WP's hero when they won the Currie Cup title last year, defeating the Golden Lions 19-16 in the final at Newlands.