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Springbok star Rec-bound

09/07/2007

South African fly-half Butch James has signed for Guinness Premiership side Bath in a two-year deal.

The Springboks' first-choice number ten will make the switch from the Sharks in his native country to bolster the back division of Steve Meehan's struggling side after the conclusion of his country's World Cup campaign.

The 28-year-old is currently waiting for his 19th cap after being included in the raft of top names controversially rested for South Africa's final two Tri-Nations games of the season away to Australia and New Zealand.

Coach Jake White has benched the stars in a bid to keep them fresh and fit for September's showpiece tournament after a long season.

That heavy workload means that James will probably first stride onto the Recreation Ground pitch in November as he has been afforded a short post-World Cup break by his new employers.

Local rivals Gloucester were reportedly seeking to hijack Bath's plans and ruin months of careful pursuit by swiping James with a late bid.

But he rejected those advances to join international colleague Michael Classens, who has already committed to playing in the blue and black next term, in making the switch to the northern hemisphere.

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