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Plot twist in Paris as Siya Kolisi deal on verge of collapse
By Neil Fissler
Siya Kolisi’s much-anticipated return to the Sharks could be on the brink of collapse after talks between the South African club and his current employers, Racing 92, look to have hit a major stumbling block.
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RugbyPass exclusively broke the news earlier this month that Kolisi, 33, was pushing for a return to the Sharks after less than a season in France and that initial talks were progressing smoothly.
It appeared that Kolisi, who is currently playing for South Africa in the Rugby Championship, would rejoin his former club when his commitments with the Springboks end.
He made 18 appearances for Racing after leading South Africa to back-to-back World Cup Final victories, but Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti was far from impressed with his efforts and launched a stinging attack.
Lorenzetti claimed after his side’s Top 14 31-17 play-off defeat to Bordeaux-Begles in June that Kolisi: “gained weight, lost shape, and yesterday he was invisible.”
Now we understand from sources in Paris that talks to agree on a transfer fee have stalled, with Racing wanting back the R17 million (around £726,200) they splashed out to sign him.
Despite his criticism, Lorenzetti appears in no mood to compromise or even strike a deal. He is playing hardball by demanding the full payment upfront before agreeing to release Kolisi from his three-year contract.
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But the Sharks are trying to negotiate payment terms and would prefer to spread the cash out over the next two or three seasons, which Lorenzetti has turned down flat, and the talks have reached a stalemate.
And that has things stand, Kolisi will have to return to Paris after the Boks’ final Rugby Championship game against Argentina at the end of next month despite the breakdown of his relationship with Lorenzetti if nothing gives.
Most professional rugby players aren't that bright!
If you play for 10 years you have an 86% chance of CTE before you are 60 years old.
If you play in the forwards your risk is even higher.
Great game to watch, just don't want my grand kids playing the game.
Absolute "Gladiators" and with the same mindset. Great spectator sport. I love it.
Those figures are completely out of whack. Rugby is played in over 130 countries world wide. You would think if that figures were true, no one would be playing rugby as their parents wouldn't allow it. I saw a documentary the other day on exactly this. They made a comparison between rugby and NFL or American football as most know it. There they have so much padding on, I'm surprised they can even walk. CTE in NFL is more than 55% higher than rugby. How?
And BTW wtf are you doing on a rugby platform 😇
I'd love to know where you got your figures as there are over 4 million people playing rugby every week . I played rugby for 15 years and I am in touch with at least 150 of my fellow players - we are all now in our late sixties mid seventies and not one of us has a problem. We must indeed either be blessed or special 😆
The impact of SA teams joining URC and the majority of Test players signing with UK/Fr/Irel clubs will slowly dawn. Winning the LOTTO Cup has justified the means to the ends. For now. But after only 1-2 X URC seasons prior to RWC that is an algorithm excluding all risk factors. Guess what, French billionaires didnt get rich by buying high and selling low. Never heard of Mourad Boudjellal, previously owner of Toulon ? ask Julian Savea. Savea wasnt, of course, part of the ABs when he signed. That's why he signed. No matter, he was dumped anyway. And with zero media statements with NZRFU/Hurricanes/AB Coach. Its laughable that SARU/Sharks/BokCoach believe they can get their player back and pay for it on-tick having received a lump sum transfer a few months previously. Maybe Ulster were more gentlemanly given how quickly Kitshoff also did a u-turn. Its just the start, the tail is now wagging the dog.
Actually, the Frenchie with a woman name wanted to blame someone for their weak performances and blamed Kolisi with false accusations. Then Kolisi played for the Boks again and EVERYBODY saw that he isn't fat and unfit and all that nonsense, but looking strong in attack and defence and the Frenchie got shown up for the liar he is. The deal was done, but since then, he has gotten a lot of flack for his pathetic statements and that's riled him up and suddenly the deal is almost off. It is simple. If I were Kolisi, I would play as bad as I can, pass the ball to the opposition just to force the loser to sell me back, and if he doesn't, well it's a free ride if they don't play me then isn't it?
Kindly advise which majority of Test players you are referring to?
By my count - the number has reduced with less Test level SA players in Europe than say around a year or two ago.
I do think you are right though - I think Europe is becoming more hostile to test level boks and signings. They’re expensive. There’s no guarantees that they’ll work out every time. And I guess if due diligence is not done on both sides it’s a poor decision.
But you know, I tend to not feel too bad for billionaire businessmen who cry themselves to sleep on their Egyptian Cotton pillow cases.
Forcing him to stay at at your team won’t exactly inspire weight loss and extra effort now will it.
What's ridiculous is Siya plays South African style rugby. Heavy, hard hitting and making metres. I don't know what the R92 boss is saying about gained weight. But it seems the boss is not familiar with adopting SA style rugby tactics. Siya fits perfectly into our system. There's nothing wrong with him. But JL wants Siya to be a square peg but he is a triangular peg. No amount of forcing will change him. The R92 environment is not a good fit for SK.
The money isn't important, it's the principle
That’s good for Racing who will spend another year paying for a fat and invisible player.
Bad for Siya. I believe his family is already back in Durban.
Must have been a kak jol.