The protracted public spat between the Golden Lions Rugby Union and their Western Province counterparts, over the services of Springbok centre Jaque Fourie, will drag on for at least another week, after the arbitration hearing was adjourned on Tuesday.

In a brief statement the GLRU said the arbitration hearing - in which Fourie wants to nullify his contract with the Lions in order to join WP - has not reached finality.

"As such, the hearing has been adjourned to re-convene on Monday, October 12," the statement said.

This is the latest in a tug-of-war between the GLRU and WPRU over the veteran Bok star.

The contractual dispute between the GLRU, the Bok centre, Fourie and WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd is also being "closely monitored" by the South African Rugby Players Association as a "watershed" case.

Fourie, who has an offer worth almost R4-million from WP on his table, claims that his contract with the GLRU is not binding - a statement disputed by his current union.

The two unions, the Lions and WP, started their arbitration hearing - chaired by advocate Schalk Burger - on Monday and it continued into Tuesday.

Unions deadlocked

But by late afternoon the case was still deadlocked.

Earlier GLRU President Kevin de Klerk told this website that they will fight to the bitter end in their battle to end the mass exodus that has plagued the Lions since Eugene Eloff was sacked as head coach in June.

Others who are leaving the union or have already left include lock Gerhard Mostert (Sharks), Anton van Zyl (Western Province), Dewald Senekal (Toulon, France), Cobus Grobler (Dax, France), Jannes Labuschagne (out injured, contemplating retirement again), André Pretorius (Western Force), Willie Wepener (Clermont, France), Ernst Joubert (Saracens, England) and Ethienne Reynecke (Saracens, England).

It is for this reason that the GLRU have decided to "dig in their heels" on the Fourie case.

The GLRU chief, De Klerk, was adamant that their contract with Fourie is binding, despite strong protestations to the contrary from Fourie, as well as his agent and lawyer.

De Klerk told us that it is the same 20-page contract all player sign in South Africa and is valid till next year October.

"We, as President and CEO [Manie Reyneke], will to go arbitration, but I can't see what they are going to arbitrate - because there is a contract.

"We feel very strongly about this, and we will dig in our heels."

Asked if they will abide by what happens at the arbitration hearing De Klerk said: "If it is in our favour. If it is not [in our favour] we will continue to fight, we are not going to let this go easy.

"There are players who are far to quick and too easy to depart.

"Manie [Reyneke, the CEO] and myself have decided to dig in our heels and we will not allow that to take place.

"If Saru and other unions want to be lax on it, good luck to them, we are not going to be a pushover."

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