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Pieter Steph du Toit Toulon deal dead in the water
By Ian Cameron
Springbok loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit's move to French rugby club Toulon has reportedly fallen through due to his high price tag.
L'Equipe report that the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year was in discussions with the club, but Toulon have apparently decided not to pursue the deal.
Du Toit, who is at the end of his contract with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz, had been seen as an ideal reinforcement for Toulon's team next season. However, his salary demands were deemed too high by the French club.
The news will come as a relief to Du Toit's former club, the Stormers in South Africa, who may now have a chance to bring the 30-year-old back into their fold. Du Toit is widely considered to be one of the best players in the world, and his return to the Stormers would be a huge boost to the team.
Toulon has already completed the signings of several other players in the second and back rows, including English international David Ribbans, and French players Selevasio Tolofua and Yannick Youyoutte from Stade Toulousain.
Several players in Toulon's forward pack are also at the end of their contracts, including Italian Sergio Parisse, who is expected to join the coaching staff, and Raphaël Lakafia, whose future is uncertain. Mathieu Bastareaud has yet to decide whether he will return to Toulon as a player or retire from playing professional rugby altogether to continue his burgeoning coaching career with the club.
Du Toit's future now remains uncertain, but it is clear that his services will be in high demand. With his impressive skillset and experience, he will be a valuable asset to any team fortunate enough to secure his signature.
Against that, du Toit - who has won 61 caps for the Spingboks - has suffered his fair share of injuries, with one leg injury so severe that the doctors had spoken about the possibility of amputation.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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