Ackermann cleared to join Saints
January 10, 2002

Springbok forward Johan Ackermann has been cleared to join Zurich Premiership Northampton Saints next week.

The Golden Lions Rugby Union have backed down from moves to stop the lock from heading to England, having initially insisted that Ackermann honour his contract and stay to the end of the 2002 season.

GLRU president Jomo King said: "It appears that Northampton officials were not aware that he already had a contract with us.

"The issue has dragged on for too long and we want to solve it as soon as possible.

"Johan did not use an agent when he signed a one-year deal until the end of 2002 with the Lions.

"He was approached by three agents with offers to move overseas. Craig Livingstone (the agent who did the deal) should have known that he had a binding contract."

Livingstone negotiated Joost van der Westhuizen's contract with Newport. The deal fell through when the scrum-half reneged on the deal after being offered a new contract by South Africa coach Harry Viljoen.

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