Eben Etzebeth
Damian de Allende
The Japanese Yen’s pulling power continues to lure Springboks to Japan for brief off-season stints.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is reported to have signed for the Red Hurricanes and is set to join Springbok teammate Handré Pollard for a stint in Japan.
As is the case with Pollard, Etzebeth’s contract with the Japanese club will only be for 3 months and commence after the World Cup.
That would see him return to play for the DHL Stormers in next year’s Super Rugby competition.
Etzebeth’s contract with Western Province expires at the end of the 2016 season.
The 2nd Springbok that will travel to Asia, is Super Rugby sensation Damien de Allende who has, according to japanrugby.net, signed with the Liners.
De Allende will depart for Japan after the World Cup and return in time for the Super Rugby season in 2016.
The Stormers centre will also be joined at the Liners – for a short while – by Springbok Pierre Spies, before the veteran No 8 heads to Montpellier in February 2016 to link up with former national coach Jake White in the French Top 14.
The 3 Springboks join an already long list of South Africans that have signed for Japanese clubs – including Willie le Roux, Francois Hougaard, Handré Pollard, Heinrich Brüssow, Marcell Coetzee, Andries Ferreira, JJ Engelbrecht, Fourie du Preez, JP Pietersen, Schalk Burger, Ryan Kankowski, Elton Jantjies, Jaque Fourie and Andries Bekker.
rugby365