Rugby teams play tug-of-war over WP flyhalf Catrakilis

A TUG-OF-WAR is developing between the Southern Kings and Western Province over the services of star rugby flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, who is enjoying a run of red-hot form in the Currie Cup.

On the same day that the Kings were included in Super Rugby last month, Catra- kilis was quoted as saying he was looking forward to working under Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons.

At that stage, it appeared as though the man they call the “Greek God” at Newlands was all set to join the men in red and black hoops.

“I am looking forward to playing Super Rugby,” enthused Catrakilis after he was heralded as the Kings’ first major signing.

Since then the waters surrounding Catrakilis have become muddied and it has emerged that Western Province are planning to make a counter offer for the pivot.

Efforts to reach Catrakilis yesterday for comment proved fruitless.

It is believed that an assurance that he wouldbe in the Kings’ starting line-up could be decisive as Catrakilis weighs up his options. If he stays at WP, he will have to take his chances behind first-choice flyhalf Peter Grant.

“Catrakilis is a player we have our eyes on, but nothing has been finalised,” was how EP Kings chief executive Anele Pamba reacted when news of the possible signing of the WP star emerged.

Although there has been much speculation that Catrakilis has already signed to play for the Southern Kings, Western Prov- ince and Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said the move was far from a certainty.

He said: “We do have the right to match an offer that is made to one of our players and we are exercising that right with Demetri. We have been talking to his agent, and while there has been an offer made to him, we are still weighing up our options and assessing what we’ve got in terms of flyhalf talent.”