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Cape Town - Speaking to the EWN’s website, Sharks CEO John Smit has warned that Bismarck du Plessis could leave South Africa if SA Rugby don’t give him a long-term deal.
According to recent reports, the Springbok and Sharks hooker has received several lucrative overseas offers from France and has yet to conclude contractual negotiations with the Sharks.
SARU currently only offer one-year contracts to players, but are considering offering extended contracts to a core group of Springboks.
Short-term Springbok contracts have been blamed for the recent exodus of a spate of key players, including the likes of Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana (both France) and Andries Bekker (Japan), as players seek the financial security foreign clubs offer without the increasing risk of loss of income due to injury.
Smit said, "We have an agreement in place, but he wants to wait and see what SA Rugby has planned for him for his future before he commits to anything."
"I’ll be lying if I say he has signed, but we have come to an agreement, an agreement we are both happy with."
Du Plessis’ brother Jannie recently agreed to extend his contract with the Sharks.
According to recent reports, the Springbok and Sharks hooker has received several lucrative overseas offers from France and has yet to conclude contractual negotiations with the Sharks.
SARU currently only offer one-year contracts to players, but are considering offering extended contracts to a core group of Springboks.
Short-term Springbok contracts have been blamed for the recent exodus of a spate of key players, including the likes of Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana (both France) and Andries Bekker (Japan), as players seek the financial security foreign clubs offer without the increasing risk of loss of income due to injury.
Smit said, "We have an agreement in place, but he wants to wait and see what SA Rugby has planned for him for his future before he commits to anything."
"I’ll be lying if I say he has signed, but we have come to an agreement, an agreement we are both happy with."
Du Plessis’ brother Jannie recently agreed to extend his contract with the Sharks.
