JOEL STRANSKY, South Africa's World Cup out half, has agreed a two and a half year contract with Leicester that could earn him up to £350,000 with bonuses included.
The 29 year old former Natal and Western Province player will play a key role in the development of the flexible running style fostered by the Australian director of rugby, Bob Dwyer at Welford Road.
Stransky should obtain a work permit in three to four weeks which would allow him to make his Courage League debut on January 11th. However, he will not be eligible for the European Cup final on January 25th should the Tigers reach that stage of the competition by winning their semifinal against Toulouse on January 4th.
Dwyer described the capture of Stransky, who scored all 15 points for the Springboks in last year's World Cup final, as another step towards building the strongest team in Europe".
Stransky will be the first South African international - 23 Tests, 240 points - to play for Leicester, whom he saw defeat Northampton 23-9 in last Sunday's League clash. "I was impressed by every aspect of the club, on and off the field," said Stransky. "They're a strong side, getting stronger, and they're going to achieve great things. They haven't lost sight of the fact that they're a rugby club and - as a recent father - the environment and family atmosphere at Welford Road was very persuasive."
Dwyer added: "Joel will bring his own unparalleled playing strengths to the team, but, with strength and depth so important, we're also counting on his experience and influence to develop the terrific young fly half skill we already have at the club."
Meanwhile, referees in Wales, will next week become the first group of sporting officials in Britain to go on strike in a dispute over pay unless the Welsh Rugby Union steps in to prevent the downing of whistles which would paralyse the game in the principality.
Feelings are running so high over the WRU's refusal to sanction match fees beyond the top two divisions and to backdate the claim to August 31st - when the Welsh Referees' Society met to consider a strike call only one district out of nine voted to accept the WRU's package.
The strike is scheduled to start on December 21st and would wreck the First Division programme, the fifth round of the Swalec Cup, district, schools and youth rugby. The chairman of the Society, Les Peard, a former international referee, warned: "This is no idle threat. Unless the WRU meets our demands, we are going on an indefinite strike and the mood of the referees is one of anger. We feel let down."
The referees asked for a sliding scale of payments from divisions one to five: £125 for taking charge of a match in the top flight with reduced fees for the touch judges down to £25 for controlling a fifth division game. The union offered £150 for First Division matches, £75 for the Second and nothing for the rest.
