South African Super 14 rugby franchise the Sharks are in trouble with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) after they fielded a player without a clearance certificate on Tuesday night.

The Sharks will have to explain to a SARU disciplinary committee why Willem Alberts played in a friendly match against Australia's Western Force at Newlands in Cape Town.

SARU legal manager Christo Ferreira confirmed on Wednesday that he had received a complaint from the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU), based in Johannesburg.

"The Lions' complaint is against Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik, and the Sharks," said Ferreira. Both Ludik and Alberts played for the Lions last year but have now joined the Sharks in Durban.

Ludik is injured and has not yet played for the Sharks, but Ferreira said that the Lions are of the view that he was not allowed to train with the Sharks.

The Lions believe they have binding contracts with Alberts and Ludik, according to Sport 24. SARU referred the matter to the chairman of its judicial committee, Lex Mpati. He will appoint a disciplinary committee to rule on the allegation that SARU's regulation on player movement had been breached.

Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl told Sport24 that Alberts and Ludik had exactly the same kind of contract with the Lions as Jaque Fourie, who has moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Fourie was involved in a contractual dispute with the GLRU and an arbitrator eventually ruled that he does not have a valid contract for this year.

He was therefore free to join Western Province. "We want SARU to intervene and adjudicate on the matter, as they are obliged to do according to their regulations. We have asked SARU for over a month to intervene," said Van Zyl when approached for comment about the latest developments.

"We believe the contracts (Alberts and Ludik) are exactly the same as that of Jaque Fourie. We have seen both. Jaque initially approached us about the possibility of coming to play here.

"What boggles the mind is that the players earn more with us than the Lions. If the contracts were valid, they would have had the right to match. They believe the players are absent without leave and have not paid them since Nov. 1."

Cape Town-based attorney Frikkie Erasmus, who handled Fourie's affairs, will represent the Sharks. "We'll have to wait for the charge sheet to see what the situation is," said Erasmus.

Lion's chief executive Manie Reyneke said that he hoped the matter could be resolved soon. "Unfortunately the players (Alberts and Ludik) will suffer. If we can get clarity as soon as possible, then the poor players will also know where they should play," said Reyneke.