Springboks fume as Bath blame postal delay for fiasco

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Springboks fume as Bath blame postal delay for Butch James fiasco

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Bath tonight confirmed that their fly-half, Butch James, had been withdrawn from the Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and blamed an undelivered letter from the South African Rugby Union, sent in April, for the matter only coming to a head just days before the game.

While Bath were happy for James, who had been chosen in the centre for his first cap in nearly two years, to play, Premier Rugby has a blanket policy that prevents players turning out for countries other than England on international weekends that are outside the regulation governing player release.

South Africa will name their revised team tomorrow. Francois Steyn is likely to fill James's absence with Dean Kirchner taking over at full-back. The 92-cap second row, Victor Matfield, has been called up for Andries Bekker, who has a foot injury.

"We have had to withdraw Butch because the game between Wales and South Africa falls outside the international window," the Bath chief executive, Nick Blofeld, said. "We did not receive a letter from Saru, sent on 20 April, asking for Butch to play so the issue has only come to our attention recently. It is very unfortunate for Butch, who is very keen to play for his country again. We are very supportive of this, but it does need to be within the internationally agreed parameters. We have explained the situation fully to him, apologising for the disappointment and inconvenience he has suffered, and we hope he gets his chance next weekend."

South Africa are angry that while they cannot play James, his club colleague, David Barnes, and Saracens' South African hooker, Schalk Brits, will be in the Barbarians' front row against Ireland at Thomond Park. "We are not being hypocritical," a Premier Rugby spokesman said. "We have an agreement with the Barbarians for their end of season matches and they only choose players from Premiership clubs who are not going on summer tours. Our primary concern in all this is player welfare."

The England outside-half, Jonny Wilkinson, said he will be fit to be considered for the first Test against Australia on 12 June as he recovers from a rib injury sustained during Toulon's Challenge Cup final against Cardiff Blues last month.

"I want to get out there on the training field, but the physios are holding me back at the moment," said Wilkinson, who will miss the opening match of the tour against the Australian Barbarians next Tuesday. "The buildup starts now in terms of World Cup preparation and for me it is an exciting year ahead."

[DGP1]

Boo hooo - haven't these people ever heard of a telephone????

[Lounge Lizard]

Don't they realise that Rugby, like football, is only a game. Some people take things far too seriously these days.