Butch to Bath

The player exodus gathers momentum as it was announced today that Butch James has signed a deal with English Premiership club Bath.

It has been an open secret for a while that the Bok flyhalf would be joining the English club, but it was only officially confirmed that he had signed a two year deal today. Bath’s Premiership rival Gloucester had also put in an offer for James’ services.

This week’s other departures are Cheetahs flyhalf Willem De Waal who will play at an unconfirmed club in France next year, and lock Corniel van Zyl who has signed for Italian club Treviso. French club Montpellier also announced the signing of South Africa players Frikkie Welsh, Grant Rees, Warren Britz and Eugene van Staden.

The list of players leaving South Africa next year continues to grow, with the following departures either confirmed or highly likely:

Victor Matfield – France – Toulon
John Smit – France – Clermont Ferrand
Bob Skinstad – France – Perpignon
Schalk Burger – France – Toulouse (not confirmed yet)
Percy Montgomery – France – Perpignon
Breyton Paulse – France – Clermont Ferrand (not confirmed yet)
Marius Joubert – France – Clermont Ferrand
Gerrie Britz – France – Perpignon
Philip Burger – France – Perpignon
Ronnie Cook – France – Brive
Lawrence Sephaka – France – Toulon
De Wet Barry – England – Harlequins
Joe van Niekerk – England – Northampton Saints
Butch James – England – Bath
Corniel van Zyl – Italy – Treviso
Willem de Waal – France – Unconfirmed
Frikkie Welsh – France – Montpellier
Grant Rees – France – Montpellier
Warren Britz – France – Montpellier
Ashwin Willemse – France – Perpignan
Brent Russell – England – Saracens
Eugene van Staden – France – Montpellier
Wessel Roux – France
Ollie le Roux – Ireland – Leinster