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Cape Town - Former IRB Player of the Year Schalk Burger will captain the Stormers in their 2010 Super 14 campaign.

And Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus also added on Tuesday that the openside flanker will be making a positional switch to eighthman.

Last year's Stormers captain Jean de Villiers has been lured abroad by the pound, and Western Province Currie Cup captain Luke Watson has followed suit, which opened the way for Burger to rice pearl take over the reins of the Newlands-based side, who finished in a disappionting 10th position last season.

Burger will be leading a side that will include another former IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana who will ply his trade down south next season. Burger and Habana may very well be joined by Springbok centre Jaque Fourie who has just been declared a free agent.

Erasmus said on Tuesday that a deal with Fourie will be finalised soon.

Although he has proved his worth as world-class flanker, Erasmus feels that it will be in the Stormers' interest that Burger packs down at No 8. Watson would have been the obvious choice as the No 8 but he's moved on to England. “The openside debate is ongoing. You have a guy like Heinrich Brussow (of the Cheetahs) who is a classic openside, but some teams prefer to have the whole team contest at the breakdown," said Erasmus, who has often made the point that there is no need for a specialist opensider.

"The way we coach at Western Province and the Stormers is not to have a specialist openside, but for the whole team to contest at the breakdown. We practice from 15 to freshwater pearl earrings one to see that everyone can contest on the ground.

“It will also depend on different combinations for different games. Our defensive system is the same at the scrum, but on attack you need a guy who can handle the ball in the (scrum) channel and there we'll look at Schalk and Duane Vermueluen.”

"So, if we play opposition that is strong in the line-out, it would be wonderful to have Duane (Vermeulen), Flouw (Francois Louw) and Schalk (Burger), who can all contest in the line-outs.

"If we play against a Brussow-like player, then a guy like Pieter Myburgh, or Conraad Britz, or somebody like that will come into the mix.

"It will differ from game to game, but overall, our opinion is the man that plays number eight must be able to handle the ball at the back of the scrum, because with akoya pearl jewelry our defence system it is pretty similar if you play numbers six, seven or eight.

Erasmus explained that there was a good case for Burger to lead the side. “He relates well to our management structures and is a Province boy through and through," said Erasmus. "Its not finalised, but itll be a big surprise if hes not appointed."

The Stormers will be able to call several players who sat out the major part of the year because of injury. Their number include lock Adriaan Fondse, wing Nick Koster, fullback Conrad Jantjes, flyhalf Willem de Waal and centres Dylan des Fountain and Morgan Newman.

“Having Habana come down is really the cherry on the top when you consider the other guys back from injury," said Erasmus. "His experience will really help the youngsters.

"With Jaque Fourie coming it will be an exciting backline, and a youngster like Juan de Jongh should thrive. It shouldnt be hard to game machines coach."

Fourie could well be making his Stormers debut against his former team as the Cape side start their 2010 campaign against the Lions in Johannesburg.

John Bishop

Durban - While Western Province were on Monday celebrating the landing of another big fish, both the Sharks and the Free State Cheetahs have had their locks cited following their weekend’s semi-final at King’s Park.

World-class centre Jaque Fourie has been cleared to freshwater pearl jewelry leave the Lions and join Springbok team-mate and wing Bryan Habana in Cape Town for next year’s Super 14 while the Sharks’ Johann Muller and the Cheetahs’ David de Villiers are both facing disciplinary action following incidents in the semi-final.

After weeks of squabbling with the Golden Lions Rugby Union, and following arbitration, Fourie’s lawyer Frikkie Erasmus has confirmed that the burly centre has been cut free of his contract and had become a free agent.

“The arbitrator has decided that there is no forced agreement between Jaque and the GLRU and he will not be forced to play professional rugby for the Lions in the 2010 season,” Erasmus told Sport24.

Advocate Schalk Burger, who headed the arbitration hearing, ruled that Fourie did not have a standard players' contract with the GLRU and he was free to move to pearl necklace Cape Town.

Western Province manager Peet van Zyl said that Fourie will now be able to sign a two-year contract (November 1 2009 to October 31 2011) and he would fill the huge hole left by the experienced Bok Jean de Villiers in the midfield.

Lions president Kevin de Klerk reacted angrily to the news.

“I hope that Jaque will reconsider now that Dick Muir has become our coach. He must now live with himself, knowing he is one of our sons and we have nurtured him,” he said. “We will not let players go like we have allowed in the past.”

The ruling could benefit  the Sharks who have the Lions’ powerful number eight Willem Alberts and fullback Louis Ludik on their shopping list. The pair have a similar contract to Fourie with the Lions and they could become available to offers from the Sharks from November 1.

Meanwhile Sharks lock and former captain Johann Muller, who has had a disappointing season disrupted by injury, ended the Currie Cup with freshwater pearl earrings another injury and, reportedly, a citing for high tackle on Free State hooker Richardt Strauss.

The tackle, shortly before half-time in the semi-final, forced Strauss to leave the field at half time with a closed eye.

Muller himself left the field early in the second half with a leg injury but any suspension could prevent him being considered for the Springbok tour of Europe next month. However, his limited action in the Currie Cup following on-going problems with a broken arm would probably count against his selection anyway.

The repercussions of the citing of Cheetahs lock David de Villiers could be far more damaging. De Villiers is alleged to have elbowed Sharks replacement flank Keegan Daniel late in the game and Free State’s lineout specialist could miss the Currie Cup final against the Blue Bulls at Loftus on October 31.

De Villiers is to face a disciplinary hearing in Cape Town on Wednesday. If banned, reserve lock Izak van der Westhuizen is likely to move up from the bench to silver pearl necklace face the two best locks in world rugby, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

Cheetahs forward coach Barend Pieterse said it would be a major blow.

“It will be a big loss to play without a recognised lineout lock,’ he told reporters, “and it will disrupt our preparations.”

Pieterse again highlighted the inconsistencies of the citing process and said that Bakkie Botha had not been charged following his yellow-card at Newlands.

“It is disappointing to see David called in and Bakkies being cleared. I don’t even think David’s incident was big enough for this whole investigation,” he added.

Harare - Zimbabwe's prime minister says he is disengaging from the unity government because of the "persecution" of a top aide.

Longtime opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Friday, "We are not really pulling out officially." He said his party would not attend Cabinet meetings or engage in executive work with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change party would continue parliament activities.

Tsvangirai said the freeze will continue until leisure chairs the dispute over Roy Bennett's trial and other issues are resolved.

Bennett is being tried on charges linked to long-discredited allegations that his party, the MDC, plotted President Robert Mugabe's violent overthrow.

The party's move demonstrates deep unhappiness within the MDC with the coalition. But Tsvangirai has repeatedly said he sees the coalition as the only way to ensure Zimbabwe's future, and he made that clear again by stopping short of bringing the government down.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe entered the unity government in February after two violence-plagued elections left the country at a political standstill and in economic ruin.

"Until confidence has been restored we can't continue to pretend that everything is well," Tsvangirai said. "It is our right to akoya pearl jewelry disengage from Zanu-PF."

Bennett "persecuted not prosecuted"

Bennett, who was ordered back to jail earlier this week after seven months on bail, was due to stand trial starting Monday.

Tsvangirai had nominated Bennett as deputy agriculture minister in the coalition. Bennett was arrested the day the Cabinet was sworn in February and charged with weapons violations. He denies the charges against him.

"Roy Bennett is not being prosecuted, he is being persecuted," Tsvangirai said on Friday.

Zimbabwe's neighbours had urged Mugabe, who has held power since independence in 1980, to form the partnership with former labour leader Tsvangirai. In forming their coalition, the longtime opponents pledged to work together to turn around the country's economic and political collapse.

Since the coalition was formed, Mugabe has demanded that Tsvangirai do more to pearl strand wholesale get international sanctions lifted and restore foreign aid and investment. Tsvangirai has condemned continuing human rights violations.

The coalition is Mugabe's only hope for taking Zimbabwe out of international isolation, and it has brought Tsvangirai closer to power than any election.

Godfrey Marawanyika

Harare - Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday suspended co-operation with President Robert Mugabe's "dishonest and unreliable" camp in the biggest threat to freshwater pearl the fragile new unity government.

The snub was sparked by this week's renewed detention of top aide Roy Bennett which Tsvangirai said drove home the "fiction of the credibility and integrity" of his partnership with long-time rival Mugabe.

Bennett, whose release on bail was ordered by the Zimbabwe high court on Friday, goes on trial for terrorism on Monday on charges the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says are trumped-up.

"It has brought home the reality that as a movement we have an unreliable and unrepentant partner in the transitional government," Tsvangirai told journalists in Harare of his ministerial pick's arrest and detention.

Disengage from Zanu-PF

"Whilst being in government, we shall forthwith disengage from Zanu-PF and in particular from cabinet and the council of ministers until such time as confidence and respect is restored amongst us."

Lawyers were on Friday organising Bennett's release from detention in the eastern town Mutare after Mr Justice Charles Hungwe dismissed an immediate appeal by the state against his ruling that he be freed on bail.

"In my view the applicant stands to cultured pearl lose more by absconding trial. He has not soiled his previous record, therefore he is entitled to an order that he seeks," Hungwe ruled.

Tsvangirai scrapped a ministerial meeting on Thursday a day after a magistrate's court revoked Bennett's bail and ordered him to stand trial, in a move which drew sharp criticism from Western powers.

The feisty white former coffee farmer, whose land was expropriated under Mugabe's land reforms, was originally arrested an hour ahead of the swearing in of the new government on February 13.

Symbol of unresolved challenges

His case has become a symbol of the unresolved challenges facing the partnership which include claims of a crackdown against Tsvangirai's supporters and disputes over key posts.

The MDC did not comment on the implications of Bennett's release but Finance Minister Tendai Biti, a top party official, said: "Justice has prevailed. We have an attorney general masquerading as a lawyer for a long time."

Tsvangirai earlier told journalists that the MDC will not resume unity government ties until all outstanding issues are resolved and the power-sharing pact is  fully put in place.

"Should this constitutional crisis escalate, then the self-evident solution would be the holding of a free and fair election" to be conducted by African political blocs under United Nations supervision, he said.

Remain in government

While suspending relations with Zanu-PF, the MDC leader said his party would remain in government as it was the "only one with the mandate to button pearl remain".

"For that reason this party for now will not renege on the people's mandate. However it is our right to disengage from a dishonest and unreliable partner," he said.

Tsvangirai and his long-time rival agreed to the unity government nearly a year after disputed polls, which saw Mugabe handed the presidency in a one-man run-off, plunged the country into deeper economic and political crisis.

Bennett's detention ahead of his trial next week also prompted sharp criticism from Western powers, which called for an end to what they said pearl beads was harassment of Tsvangirai's supporters.

Washington on Thursday demanded Mugabe "end the harassment" of the former opposition, including Bennett, while the European Union presidency called the court's decision an act of "politically motivated abuse".

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would disengage from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party in the country's unity cabinet set up in February.

Here is a timeline of events since the two main players signed a power sharing deal in September 2008.

September 15 2008 - Mugabe and Tsvangirai sign a power-sharing agreement to try to swing machines end the crisis but implementation stalls over who gets top ministerial posts.

January 27 2009 - Regional leaders say they reached breakthrough in negotiations on implementing the deal but the opposition says it is disappointed with results of the meeting.

January 30 - Opposition agrees at meeting in Harare to join the unity government.

February 5 - Parliament passes a constitutional bill paving the way for a coalition government.

February 11 - Tsvangirai is sworn in as prime minister.

March 4 - Tsvangirai calls for an end to cultured pearl international sanctions in his maiden speech to parliament, as part of his bid to start rebuilding the shattered economy.

March 6 - Tsvangirai is injured in a car accident that killed his wife. He is flown to Botswana for treatment.

May 1 - Tsvangirai announces at a May Day rally that the unity government is broke and cannot meet union demands for higher wages.

June 24 - Tsvangirai winds up a three-week tour to the US and Europe which yielded scant funds and put him under pressure to persuade Mugabe to agree to reform to secure foreign aid.

June 25 - Mugabe attacks Western countries for refusing to freshwater pearl jewlelry lift sanctions because he was still in power, but says his country will get aid from those who will not impose conditions.

July 14 - Zimbabwe resumes a convention to draw up a new constitution after it was halted the day before, following clashes between rival political parties that exposed tensions within the new unity government.

September 4 - The IMF says it has transferred around $400m in IMF special drawing rights to Zimbabwe as part of G20 agreement to help member states.

September 12 - Mugabe welcomes the first top-level EU delegation to pearl jewelry Chian visit Zimbabwe in seven years with "open arms" and say talks on implementing a power-sharing deal went well.

October 1 - Zimbabwe's economy is projected to grow by 3.7% this year, according to the IMF, the first expansion since 1997.

October 14 - A court detains Roy Bennett, a senior MDC official, and rules that he should stand trial on terrorism charges.

October 15 - Britain says it is providing $100m in aid to Zimbabwe in 2009, its largest ever donation to the country, to help the unity government.

October 16 - Tsvangirai announces the MDC will disengage from "dishonest and unreliable" Zanu-PF.

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