Bath have been clear over the future of Butch James © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Butch James

Tournaments/Tours: Super 14 | Guinness Premiership

Teams: Bath | England | Sharks | South Africa

Bath have admitted that the Sharks Super 14 franchise has been in contact over the future of fly-half Butch James.

James represented the Durban-based Sharks before moving to Bath in 2007 but the Guinness Premiership side have reiterated their stance that he will see out the remaining two years of his contract.

The World Cup-winner has made clear his desire to play for South Africa again but Bath believe that he can achieve his aim while still playing in England, as he did during the 2008 Tri-Nations.

"Butch still has two more seasons of his contract left to run," Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld said. "He has said to us that he would like to play for South Africa again and we would, of course, love to see him do that, but believe he can do so from Bath having done so in the past.

"Butch is still very much a key member of Bath's squad and will inevitably continue to attract interest from other clubs, as he is a world class talent."

The Sharks recently signed England pivot Andy Goode on a short-term deal from French Top 14 side Brive in order to cover the sudden retirement of recent recruit Steve Meyer and a season-ending injury suffered by Argentina's Juan Martin Hernandez.