Cape Town – Brendan Venter has questioned the integrity of some of the agents associated with South African rugby players.

Venter, who was recently confirmed as defence and exits consultant of the Springboks, vented his frustration on social media.

He was responding to the news that Springbok and Bulls centre Jan Serfontein would leave the country to explore opportunities abroad.

SA Rugby confirmed on Wednesday that an offer was made to keep the 24-year-old midfielder in the country, but he opted against signing a new deal.

Via his official Twitter account, Venter said it was a “pity” that Serfontein decided to head abroad.

Venter also commented on the loss of Sharks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, who recently announced that he would join English club Northampton Saints.

Venter acknowledged that there were “some really good agents” around, but added that some of them “just don’t care” about the South African game.

Venter called for a more transparent process, saying agents need to explain the processes behind players opting to sign overseas deals.

Here follows a series of tweets posted by Venter on Wednesday night:

Pity Jan Serfontein decided to move overseas at such a young age. So much potential. Wonder if Cobus Reinach and Jan have the same agent ?

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 19, 2017

Springbok supporters are desperate to see the results improve and rightly so. Pity we have South African rugby agents that just dont care.

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 19, 2017

I am sure there are some really good agents out there but looking at the advice both Cobus and Jan got there are some shockers as well.

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 19, 2017

In SA we love to blame SA rugby when we dont get results. Allister. Jurie. Mr Alexander. Fikile Mabule. Maybe blame the real culprits?

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 19, 2017

If this was not about money why not bring out a media report explaining to us all what it was about. The agent manages the player. Tell us.

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 19, 2017

On Thursday, Netwerk24 reported that SA Rugby took to long before offering Serfontein a decent deal.

“SARU was requested in November last year to communicate with Jan over a new contract. He only received an offer about a month or so ago, by then it was too late,” reliable source told the Afrikaans website.

To this, Venter responded on Thursday morning:

Maybe time for a factual conversation.Agent says SA rugby to blame for dragging their feet. Show us the date the contract was signed!!

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 20, 2017

In SA we have unique challenges and to make the Boks a force in World Rugby again everybody involved in rugby must contribute.

— Brendan Venter (@BrendanVenter) April 20, 2017

Cape Town – The country’s growing list of world-class sprinters will lead the charge this week, as a number of elite stars target double titles at the ASA Senior Championships.

The SA national championships take place in Potchefstroom on Friday and Saturday (April 21-22).

In-form Olympic finalist Akani Simbine will turn out as the favourite for the men’s 100m and 200m crowns.

Simbine, who has clocked impressive times of 9.92 and 19.95 in the short sprints this season, will line up against 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, World Championships 200m bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana and Gift Leotlela in both events.

Former national 100m record holder Henricho Bruintjies and Thando Roto will focus on the short dash, while Antonio Alkana will compete in the flat 100m event and the 110m contest over the barriers.

In the women’s sprints, Alyssa Conley is gearing up for another double, in an attempt to defend her national 100m and 200m titles.

Conley will face speedsters Carina Horn and Tebogo Mamatu in the 100m event – with Conley being the firm favourite in the 200m final.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, a quality line-up is expected to dominate the podium, with national record holder LJ van Zyl joining Commonwealth Games champion Cornel Fredericks, as well as fellow Olympians Le Roux Hamman and Lindsay Hanekom in a strong team.

Van Zyl will also have a go in the flat 400m sprint, while World Student Games 400m champion Justine Palframan will be focussing on the women’s one-lap dash.

World Championships 400m hurdles finalist Wenda Nel will also double-up by competing in her specialist event over the barriers, as well as the flat 200m dash.

Among the middle-distance specialists, Olympic two-lap champion Caster Semenya is expected to steal the show.

While Semenya will not defend the 1 500m title she won last year, she will compete in the 800m and 400m events after winning both finals last season.

Olympic finalists Elroy Gelant and Stephen Mokoka are due to meet in the 5 000m and 10 000m contests in perhaps the most anticipated of the men’s distance events.

In the field events, Olympic silver medallists Sunette Viljoen and Luvo Manyonga will concentrate on their specialist disciplines.

Viljoen, also a two-time World Championships bronze medallist, is expected to have little trouble in defending her national women’s javelin throw crown.

Manyonga, meanwhile, is expected to face a full-strength line-up in the men’s long jump.

Despite setting a national record of 8.62m in Tshwane last month, he will face a tough battle with the entry lists also including the trio of African champion Ruswahl Samaai, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Zarck Visser and Dylon Cotter.

In the women’s long jump, Olympic athlete Lynique Prinsloo is up against Karin Mey.

While Mey, who earned bronze for Turkey at the 2009 World Championships, is entered as an individual, she will not be eligible for the SA title.

Fredriech Pretorius, who set a personal best of 8002 points in the Decathlon at the AGN Championships in Pretoria last month, will be up against SA record holder Willem Coertzen in the event.

And on the road, in-form walkers Lebogang Shange and Wayne Snyman will go head-to-head in the men’s 20km event.

Anel Oosthuizen, who equalled her own SA record of 1:34:49 in Podebrady earlier this month, will toe the line as the favourite to defend the women’s 20km title.

Cape Town – New Zealand has defeated the Blitzboks 17-12 in a fifth place play-off match at the Singapore Sevens.

The Blitzboks opened the scoring through Stedman-Ghee Gans and added a further converted try through captain, Philip Snyman to lead 12-7 at half-time. 

New Zealand, who crossed the whitewash once in the first half through Joe Ravouvou, scored two further tries after the break through Sione Molia and Vilimoni Koroi, one of which was converted by Beaudine Waaka. 

Earlier, the Blitzboks were stunned by a late comeback from Australia as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals, going down 19-17 in the final minute. They then defeated Fiji 19-14 for the chance to face New Zealand for fifth place.

A day of upsets means the United States and Canada will contest the final in Singapore. 

Scores:

South Africa

Tries: Gans, Snyman

Conversion: Du Preez

New Zealand

Tries: Ravouvou, Molia, Koroi

Conversion: Waka