Springbok and Bulls centre Jesse Kriel is reportedly one of three players on the recruitment radar of Northampton Saints coach Chris Boyd.
Northampton are looking for a replacement for Wallabies centre Rob Horne, who was forced into sudden retirement in April, and according to the Daily Mail, Kriel, Jonathan Joseph and Ryan Crotty are the players who are being considered as possible recruits ahead of the next season.
SARugbymag.co.za understands that there are a host of top South African players who are highly sought after by overseas clubs that are well-placed to lure players abroad after this year’s World Cup.
Towards the end of last year, it was already reported that Bok lock Eben Etzebeth had accepted a big-money deal to join Toulon later this year, with Western Province and the Stormers subsequently expressing their dissatisfaction with the manner of negotiations while the player remained under contract.
‘I suppose the disappointing part is that protocol wasn’t followed,’ WP Rugby CEO Paul Zacks stated in December. ‘In terms of the Springboks and a lot of the players going forward I think we all know that there is always a lot of movement of players post a World Cup to greener pastures, so to speak.
‘That is not unexpected, I think it’s just the way we manage the communication is key and following protocol and having respect for the parties.’
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
