I STILL want to come to Newport -- that is the message from Joost van der Westhuizen, the Springbok ace caught in a domestic wrangle holding up his move.

He has signed a one-year contract with a further 12 months option with Newport, but the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) have stepped in and are refusing to sign his release.

Van der Westhuizen spoke for half-an-hour on the telephone with Newport backer Tony Brown yesterday and assured him he still wants to join Newport -- he has a flight booked out of Johannesburg next Monday night.

Now everything hinges on the outcome of a meeting tomorrow between van der Westhuizen and SARFU chief executive Rian Oberholzer and commercial manager Butch Watson-Smith.

"I've had a long chat with Joost and he told me he'd still love to come and play for Newport. He's still close to others like Gary Teichmann and Franco Smith," said Brown. "The contract was initially agreed by SARFU verbally, but what upset the applecart was Joost suddenly coming back to form.

"SARFU were prepared to release him for a year in the Northern Hemisphere, but now they don't want to because of his resurgence in form.

"If he can resolve his differences with South Africa he wants to come. He's adamant he's looking forward to it.

"There is no question of Joost wanting to back out of the move here, it's just the pressure South Africa are putting on him.

"But I'm still hopeful we can resolve this." Ian McIntosh, Newport's former South Africa coach, has hit out at SARFU over their handling of the affair.

McIntosh, two days into his full time contract with Newport, says the playerhas been caught in the middle of a tricky situation.

"I spoke to Joost just before the Tri Nations and I asked him what he was doing. He said he was definitely coming on September 4," said McIntosh.

"Obviously they have placed pressure on him because he's now a valuable member of their squad.

"It's a pity they didn't realise that earlier in the year when they didn't give him a contract beyond December making him feel insecure.

"Now he's had two good games in the Tri Nations and they realise his true worth. "But that's always been there, so now he's caught between the two. "I know he was very keen to come, he was looking forward to the challenge and a fresh break."