Bulls coffers boosted after Springboks hopeful’s return fails as French club sues
The Bulls have hit the jackpot after Carlu Sadie’s decision to remain at Bordeaux-Begles despite signing a contract to return to South Africa.
The powerhouse prop has been on the Bulls’ radar since his departure from the Sharks to join Bordeaux in 2023 and after failing to sign him last season, Jake White got his man this time around with him signing a three-year deal.
However, the deal has been cancelled and the Bulls have benefitted financially because of it.
Sadie stays in France
Sadie was set to bolster the Bulls‘ tighthead stocks next season with Wilco Louw, Mornay Smith and Francois Klopper already on their payroll.
However, the Pretoria-based franchise confirmed to Rapport that will no longer be the case after the prop opted to extend his stay with Bordeaux beyond this season.
Because he had already signed a pre-contract, Bordeaux are required to pay compensation to the Bulls with French media stating that usually the figure is around one year of the player’s salary.
The two clubs were understood to be in talks over the fee earlier this week with the Bulls now confirming that an agreement has been reached.
Sadie explained to Rapport that part of the decision to remain in Bordeaux was down to him sustaining an injury that would have sidelined him for several months.
“The surgery and rehabilitation is taking place in France,” he explained to the Afrikaans publication.
“The recovery process would have been included in my Bulls contract as I would have been on crutches for about six months so I decided to stay in France instead.”
Sadie’s possible return to South Africa would have put him in a more favourable position to press for a Springboks call-up but he will now have to stake his claim from France again next season.
While the Bulls will now have to turn their attention elsewhere if they are to recruit another prop, they have been bolstered by the payment package from Bordeaux which they could also use in other positions, particularly with the lack of depth at fly-half.
Boost for Bordeaux
Bordeaux were willing to let the South African prop depart but had a sudden change of heart at the end of last month after his replacement Tevita Tatafu signed a contract extension with Bayonne.
Similar to Sadie’s situation, Tatafu had signed a pre-contract agreement and was set to join Bordeaux before he had a change of heart and instead extended with his current club.
Bordeaux will now launch legal proceedings against the French international prop and Bayonne as unlike the situation with Sadie and the Bulls, no compensation agreement was reached.
There was also a penalty clause in the pre-contract agreement with Tatafu and Bordeaux which has also been adhered to which has irked the club president Laurent Marti who is eager to get some form of compensation.
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