Springbok wing JP Pietersen has bid farewell to South Africa as he prepares to head to Japan to take up his contract with the Panasonic Wild Knights.
Sport24
Writing on his Twitter account, Pietersen said: “My last day in SA before kicking off to Japan. Have mixed feelings today- sad & excited for my new adventure.”
Pietersen will head to Japan but will still be available to play for the Springbok team for the November Test window, but not for the Rugby Championship.
Pietersen’s “monster deal” is reportedly over five times the sum he would’ve earned in South Africa, and will allow him to return in March to continue playing for the Sharks in next year’s Super Rugby competition.
Pietersen will play in Japan for the next two seasons, before he makes a return to South Africa in 2015 to attempt to cement a place in the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup squad.