Cheslin Kolbe released from Toulon contract

Toulon have ended months of speculation by confirming that South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe will be released from his contract at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old had a year remaining on his three-year deal but both parties have reached a mutual agreement to part ways, the recently crowned Challenge Cup winners revealed today. This comes after weeks of reports from French media outlets L’Equipe and Midi Olympique suggesting Kolbe will be leaving the Stade Mayol at the end of the season.

Though the World Cup winner's new destination is yet to be revealed, he has been linked with a move to Japan's Suntory Sungoliath.

The three-time European champions wrote on their website: "The entire RCT team wishes Cheslin Kolbe the best for the future and an excellent Rugby World Cup, which he will prepare with the Springboks at the RCT Campus.

"Cheslin Kolbe will be honored during the end-of-season Garden Parties organized this Monday and Tuesday at the RCT Campus."

Kolbe added: "I would like to thank the Club, my team-mates and all the supporters for the opportunity given to me to play in Toulon during these two seasons and which I appreciated very much. I would have liked to stay in Toulon but the financial constraints of the clubs and the injuries made things difficult."

The 23-cap Springbok made the move to the Cote d'Azur in 2021 after winning a Heineken Champions Cup and Top 14 double with Toulouse. Though he has been linked with a move away all season, he quelled such speculation earlier this year when he hinted he will remain at Toulon. “I have no intention of joining Japan or another club,” he said in February to Midi Olympique. “After all my injuries, I just want to earn the respect of the Toulon public, my teammates and the club."

This announcement comes a week after Kolbe started in the Challenge Cup final victory over Glasgow Warriors, and a day after he started in Toulon's final match of the Top 14 season against Bordeaux-Begles at the Stade Mayol.