Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen has been given a week to decide whetherhis immediate playing future lies in South Africa or in Wales with Newport.

The deadline was set after a meeting between the player, Springbok coach Harry Viljoen, national teams manager Butch Watson-Smith and South African Rugby Football Union chief executive Rian Oberholzer.

"We had a very good discussion with Joost," Watson-Smith said of the meeting. "It is not an easy decision and we have given him a week to confirm whether he will stay in South Africa or take up an offer to join Newport."

What Van der Westhuizen, 30, must weigh up is whether to take up the lucrative contract offered by the Welsh club or remain in South Africa where he will be able to further his chances for selection for the 2003 RWC

It is existing SARFU policy not to consider players for the Test squad if they play overseas.

"He could go to Newport for the season but he'd have to come back to qualify in terms of playing Currie Cup and Super 12," Watson-Smith added.

Newport's millionaire backer Tony Brown is still hopeful of getting his man. "I would still like to think there's a good chance that Joost will end up at Newport, but nothing is final until he gets off the plane next week."

Brown also confirmed that the decision was purely down to Van der Westhuizen and ruled out any possible legal action should choose not to come to the club.

"Joost is still contracted to Newport but I want a happy player to come to the club, someone who wants to do his best. So there's no question of us taking any legal action on that basis."

In turn, SARFU has dropped all threats of action against Newport for alleged improper conduct.