Bulls 'negotiate' McFarland's Tigers job
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:54
Big dreams: Tigers boss Heyneke Meyer
The Blue Bulls are ready to "negotiate" the release of their defence guru John McFarland to the Leicester Tigers, following reports that he had resigned from the Bulls.
In a brief statement on Monday the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed that their defence coach, McFarland, handed in his resignation on November 7.
rugby365.com can confirm that McFarland, who is still contracted to the Bulls till 2010, has been spotted at Leicester training sessions.
However, the Bulls are not ready to let him go without proper negotiations.
In the statement the Bulls confirmed that McFarland renewed his contract, at his request, for a further three years in 2007.
"That means he is contracted by the Bulls till the end of 2010 and the Bulls are not planning to release him - because he is still under contract and he is arguably the world's best defence coach," the statement said.
"McFarland has done remarkable work with the Bulls over the last couple of years and all the senior players as well as the coaches have the highest regard for his expertise, skills and coaching methods.
"However, the Bulls are open to negotiate with Leicester Tigers on the condition that they receive a formal request for his services from the English club.
"The Bulls and Leicester have a very good business relationship and for example they managed to strike a deal over the services of Derick Hougaard earlier this year."
Tigers CEO Peter Wheeler, who was not immediately available for comment on Monday, has previously denied that McFarland was already coaching at Tigers.
However, rugby365.com has reliably learnt that he was not only seen in Leicester, but also at Tigers training sessions.
McFarland has been a long-time confidant of Tigers head coach Heyneke Meyer, with whom he had won the Super 14 title in 2007 and three successive Currie Cup (South Africa's premier domestic competition) championships from 2002 to 2004.
Previous attempts by Meyer to lure McFarland to Leicester have been met with stern resistance from the Bulls, but they have now indicated they are willing to "negotiate" his exit.
By Jan de Koning
* Should the Bulls let him go? It's your shout.
