Stefan Terblanche finds out Facebook and Twitter can be financially damaging.

Sharks stalwart Stefan Terblanche is the latest international sportsman to painfully discover that social networks such as Facebook and Twitter can be distinctly anti-social and financially damaging.

Terblanche has been fined about R15 000 by SANZAR, the board governing rugby competitions involving South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, after ‘tweeting” his displeasure at the rules pertaining to the qualification of fringe players for the knock-out stages of the recently concluded Super Rugby competition.

On the eve of the Sharks’ departure to play a quarter-final against the Crusaders in Nelson, Terblanche told his Twitter followers that SANZAR had it seriously wrong in disallowing his fellow centre Riaan Swanepoel to tour because had not played the qualifying number of four matches.

Terblanche said: “SANZAR again being very impartial. The Sharks not even allowed to take who we want on tour. Pathetic!!

Not allowed to take Swanepoel who has been part of our squad all year and toured with us for 4 weeks. He didn’t play 4 games.”

Terblanche pleaded guilty, apologised and agreed that SANZAR had correctly ruled on the ineligibility of Swanepoel to participate in the match concerned.

Terblanche was fined A$2 000 and confirmed as much on Twitter yesterday, tweeting: ‘Apologies to Sanzar. I was wrong about ruling on Riaan Swanepoel. He was correctly ruled ineligible. I am sorry.

I had to apologise to Sanzar and got fined $ 2000. That is australian dollars,so roughly times 7.2 to get rand value. Expensive tweet!”

Terblanche wil be in action for the Sharks in tomorrow’s big Currie Cup clash with the Blue Bulls at Kings Park (5pm).

By Mike Greenaway