Straeuli slams Montgomery
May 16, 2002

Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli has slammed claims that Percy Montgomery is leaving South African rugby because of the effects of the quotas system.

Montgomery's agent Craig Livingstone has claimed that the move fast-track black players into the national team was part of the reason why the Stormers star was looking to continue his career overseas.

Livingstone told the Afrikaans newspaper Die Burger, "The quota system definitely influenced his decision. There are two black full-backs (Ricardo Loubscher and Conrad Jantjes) who are currently competing for the Springbok berth with Montgomery.

"The coaches are under great pressure to accommodate black players and it was unlikely that Percy would have been selected ahead of them."

These claims were vehemently denied by Straeuli.

"It is a sad excuse when a player, through his agent, blames transformation for a move overseas," Straeuli said in a statement.

"The player is going because of the cash incentive. He told me as much. He wants the financial security that he feels the English pound will give him.

"He does not want to play for South Africa any more. It means more to him to earn pounds than it does for him to play for the Springboks."

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