Munster announced today that Jean de Villiers will return to South Africa at the end of the current season.

The decision to return home was determined by his desire to make himself available for selection for the South African 2011 World Cup squad, a situation Munster were aware of when they initially contracted de Villiers. De Villiers, who is currently abroad with the Munster squad on a warm-weather camp said, “My decision to return to South Africa is solely determined by a desire to put myself in contention for the Sprinboks RWC 2011 squad.

“I feel this is perhaps my last opportunity to represents my country at the Rugby World Cup and after consultation with SARU it has become clear that to qualify for selection players must be playing their rugby in South Africa in the season leading up to the competition.

” I’m thoroughly enjoying my time here in Munster and I think it would be fair to say that had the RWC not been a factor, then I would be remaining for at least the next 2 seasons. I would not rule out returning here after RWC 2011 either, if the opportunity arose.

“For now though,” he continued,” my entire focus is on the Magners League and Heineken Cup campaigns. There’s a lot of rugby to be played yet in the red shirt and I’m looking forward immensely to continuing my involvment with a great squad.”

Munster Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald in announcing the news said, “Jean missed the 2003 World Cup through injury and played just 40 minutes in 2007. So his desire to represent his country in the most prestigious rugby competition is totally understandable.

” Jean made us aware of this scenario before he joined us last September. He has been a hugely positive addition to the squad this season. His influence has grown and continues to grow as he becomes more and more comfortable within the squad.

“While he will be a major loss, we fully respect his ambition and he will leave us at the end of the season with our very best wishes.

393 Responses to Jean De Villiers to return to SA

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  • 121

    U edele Asgat…met sy eie thread :mrgreen:

    Stem ja, stem broer…

  • 122

    Die nuwe smileys is :poop: hehehehe

  • 123

    I dont understand why the Sharks struggle so badly. They have quality players , they have experience, although more at watching the game slip away in the last seconds. No i am amazed.

  • 124

    Lions team vs Chiefs
    15 Earl Rose
    14 Tonderai Chavhanga
    13 Deon Van Rensburg
    12 Doppies La Grange
    11 Wandile Mjekevu
    10 Carlos Spencer
    9 JP Joubert
    8 Todd Clever
    7 Derick Minnie
    6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c)
    5 Willem Stoltz
    4 Franco Van der Merwe
    3 Ross Geldenhuys
    2 Hannes Franklin
    1 Heinke Van der Merwe

    Reserves:
    16 Charles Emslie
    17 JC Janse van Rensburg / Kevin Buys
    18 Jacques Lombaard
    19 Jonathan Mokuena
    20 Jacques Coetzee
    21 Burton Francis
    22 Michael Killian

  • 125

    These Lions will come again when least expected and fark up your superbru…

  • 126

    Lyk na dieselfde span as laasweek. Net CleverTottie speel in die opdrafspan, nie reserwe

  • 127

    VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

  • 128

    Wonder of die Transvalers die ou se blogs lees en ook so kwaad vir hom is soos vir my.

    Gary Boshoff op News24.

    However, the same cannot be said about SA’s perennial underachievers, the Lions, who once again did not live up to the early expectations in their clash against the Stormers. While we are all aware of the mammoth task facing coach Dick Muir, it cannot be expected of him to perform miracles overnight. Lifting players like Willem Stoltz, Doppies la Grange, Michael Killian and quite a few others (who are Currie Cup standard at best) to the required performance levels of Super 14 rugby will require patience.

    Like I said in last week’s column, the odds of achieving improved results with the same players are stacked against Muir and his management team. There was loads of talk about the potential impact of former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer. However, when Burton Francis came on for the last 20 minutes of the match, he showed some very mature and skilled touches with ball in hand that had many questioning the recruitment of the aging All Black for what is reportedly one of the biggest salary packages in South African rugby.

  • 129

    India declared

    South Africa 296
    India 643/6d (153.0 ov)
    India lead by 347 runs with 4 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

  • 130

    That Cheetahs team will klap the Sardines!
    Expect the Tjarks to name their team on Friday and then chsnge it just before kick off.

  • 131

    blouste @ 121
    groen van jaloesie?

  • 132

    loosehead @ 130
    you dont like the tjarkies much, do you?
    or is that only for this week?

  • 133

    Ashley, take a look at Blouste’s photo, man he is in serious need of some plastic surgery. GBS can you not photo-shop his pic?

  • 134

    132- only for this week.

  • 135

    loosehead
    dont be nasty!!
    btw
    gbs tried his best to photoshop mine …. dont he had much success!!

  • 136

    btw
    do you think blouste is a pilot?
    it seems so
    cause he’s driving at a very strange angle, dont you think so?

  • 137

    135@ Asbak – What can I say, I’m no miracle worker…. eishhhhhhhh and Blouste will be an even greater challenge to PhotoShop!

  • 138

    come-on guys
    be nice!!

  • 139

    Loosemouth

    Jy’s nou nie juis ‘n oil painting nie boeta…

    Is jy so lelik gebore of het jy net baie myle oppie grondpad op…

  • 140

    gbs

    Wat vra jy om in ‘n 3 slaapkamer huis te spook ?

  • 141

    Of het jy net jou lelikste foto opgesit in die hoop dat die ouens nie te veel met jou gaan :poop: soek nie….

  • 142

    blouste @ 140
    ñ bloubul?

  • 143

    Ashley- 😆 !
    GBS- print that photo of Blouste and put it up in the kitchen, it will keep the flies away!
    Blouste- you should see me early in the morning!

  • 144

    Ash, GBS- Blouste is sensitive about his lack of looks hey?

  • 145

    140@ Blouste – Ek subkontrateur ouens uit om te gaan spook, stel jy belang?

  • 146

    gbs @ 145
    lol

  • 147

    he he he

    Loosehead…

    Lyk my jou kop is ook ‘n paar keer daar op die rugby veld in jou gat gedruk…

    Maar smaak my as ek so na jou foto kyk ,dis nie net jou kop wat weer uitgekom het nie 😯

  • 148

    ok julle klomp klein totties …. amper tyd vir lunch vir my!!

  • 149

    I love this blog! So much fun taking the piss out of each other.

    Except the Sharks of course, CHOKERS!

  • 150

    149

    Sies julle ouens is dam lelik met onse Sharks.

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