Alberts saga: Sharks in the dock
Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:42
Centre of controversy: Loose forward Willem Alberts
The protracted contract saga between the Lions and Sharks, over the services of Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik, has formally landed the Sharks in the dock.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union on Wednesday laid a formal complaint with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) against the Sharks - as well as Ludik and Alberts - after Alberts played in a pre-season game for the Sharks against the Force at Newlands on Tuesday.
Manie Reynecke, the GLRU CEO, told rugby365.com that he has lodged the complaint, as promised, because the Sharks have breached SARU's regulations.
"I have maintained, from day one, that they [Alberts and Ludik] have legal and binding contracts with us," Reynecke told this website, adding: "There are rules and regulations for a reason and those should be adhered to."
SARU, in a statement, said on Wednesday that: "In papers submitted to SARU, the Lions alleged that the Sharks had not secured the necessary clearance certificates required to secure the services of the players.
"The Lions said that the players remained under contract to them.
"The Lions allege that this constituted a breach of SARU regulations relating to the Movement of Players and asked SARU to investigate the complaint."
SARU added that the matter has been referred to Judge Lex Mpati, the chairman of the Judicial Committee, who will appoint a disciplinary committee to hear the matter.
The Sharks, with lawyer Frikkie Erasmus at the forefront of the stand-off, have been stubbornly maintaining that Alberts and Ludik do not need clearance certificates and have insisted that SARU make a ruling on the matter.
SARU, initially, declined to get involved - prompting the Sharks to force the hand of the national body by playing Alberts this week. Ludik is still injured, but was also named in an extended Sharks pre-season squads.
Now SARU, as a result of the Lions' complaint against the Sharks, must investigate the matter.
The Sharks may face a fine or even suspension.
Related links:
* Sharks force SARU's hand
* Sharks may be handed legal hot potato
By Jan de Koning
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