As the rugby world spins, Faf de Klerk, the scrum-half maestro of the Springboks, finds himself at the center of a swirling transfer vortex. The 33-year-old, with two Rugby World Cup titles under his belt, is being eyed by the French powerhouse RC Toulon, a move that could shift the tectonic plates of international rugby.
Despite a sparse appearance record for South Africa this year and a miss from Rassie Erasmus’ Rugby Championship squad, de Klerk's ambition to play in the 2027 Rugby World Cup remains undimmed. His current stint in Japan with Canon Eagles is winding down with his contract set to expire at the season's end, making him a hot commodity on the European market.
RC Toulon, in particular, has shown a keen interest in de Klerk as they face potential exits from their current scrum-halves, Ben White and Baptiste Serin. The club's attempts to secure Montpellier’s Leo Coly fell through, as did their pursuit of France's Baptiste Jauneau, leaving a significant gap in their roster. Toulon’s intrigue in de Klerk is a strategic move to bolster their lineup as they prepare for future campaigns.
"It annoys me,"
Pierre Mignoni, Toulon's boss, expressed his frustration at the constant speculation surrounding his players. "As soon as there is a new player on the market, everyone sends him to Toulon. The rumours are false... I haven’t been informed! We are working hard to keep White and Serin. I want us to stop with this. Every day, if I hear or read, there is a scrum-half arriving here," Mignoni remarked, keen to quash the incessant transfer talk.
Meanwhile, Montpellier’s interest in Serin was confirmed by their defence coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde on Sud Radio, adding another layer to the ongoing scrum-half saga. Amidst these talks, de Klerk could potentially join forces with Argentine sensation Tomas Albornoz, who is rumored to be close to sealing a deal with Toulon himself.
This possible high-profile acquisition of de Klerk could indeed be a game-changer for Toulon, adding a seasoned World Champion's expertise to their ranks. With the 2027 World Cup in sight, de Klerk's career decisions now will undoubtedly ripple through the rugby universe, influencing not just his future, but that of the clubs and countries he may soon call his sporting home.
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As the rugby world spins, Faf de Klerk, the scrum-half maestro of the Springboks, finds himself at the center of a swirling transfer vortex. The 33-year-old, with two Rugby World Cup titles under his belt, is being eyed by the French powerhouse RC Toulon, a move that could shift the tectonic plates of international rugby.
Despite a sparse appearance record for South Africa this year and a miss from Rassie Erasmus’ Rugby Championship squad, de Klerk's ambition to play in the 2027 Rugby World Cup remains undimmed. His current stint in Japan with Canon Eagles is winding down with his contract set to expire at the season's end, making him a hot commodity on the European market.
RC Toulon, in particular, has shown a keen interest in de Klerk as they face potential exits from their current scrum-halves, Ben White and Baptiste Serin. The club's attempts to secure Montpellier’s Leo Coly fell through, as did their pursuit of France's Baptiste Jauneau, leaving a significant gap in their roster. Toulon’s intrigue in de Klerk is a strategic move to bolster their lineup as they prepare for future campaigns.
"It annoys me,"
Pierre Mignoni, Toulon's boss, expressed his frustration at the constant speculation surrounding his players. "As soon as there is a new player on the market, everyone sends him to Toulon. The rumours are false... I haven’t been informed! We are working hard to keep White and Serin. I want us to stop with this. Every day, if I hear or read, there is a scrum-half arriving here," Mignoni remarked, keen to quash the incessant transfer talk.
Meanwhile, Montpellier’s interest in Serin was confirmed by their defence coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde on Sud Radio, adding another layer to the ongoing scrum-half saga. Amidst these talks, de Klerk could potentially join forces with Argentine sensation Tomas Albornoz, who is rumored to be close to sealing a deal with Toulon himself.
This possible high-profile acquisition of de Klerk could indeed be a game-changer for Toulon, adding a seasoned World Champion's expertise to their ranks. With the 2027 World Cup in sight, de Klerk's career decisions now will undoubtedly ripple through the rugby universe, influencing not just his future, but that of the clubs and countries he may soon call his sporting home.