John Smit and Bryan Habana: Reunited at Toulon?
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If French press reports are to be believed, Toulon could have five former Springboks in their squad next season with the World Cup-winning team of 2007 the centre of attention.
Record-breaking wing Bryan Habana has long been linked with the Top 14 league leaders and various French press reports, including one from television station Canal+, claim that he put pen to paper while on holiday in Dubai on Sunday.
On Thursday, South African newspaper Die Burger also reported that they were reliably informed that Habana had inked a deal.
The 29-year-old has refused to comment on the matter and transfer rules in France prevent Toulon from making an announcement.
The Stormers have however confirmed that Toulon are trying to sign SA's 2012 Player of the Year after the upcoming Super Rugby season.
If Habana does head to Toulon, he will join former Springbok and Bulls team-mates Bakkies Botha, who is already there, and Danie Rossouw, who will arrive from Suntory Sungoliath after the 2012-13 Japanese club season.
The reunion of former Boks may not end there as French radio station RMC have reported that World Cup-winning captain John Smit has already signed a deal with Toulon from Saracens ahead of the next Top 14 season as a replacement for retiring former French international Sebastien Bruno.
Former Springbok loose forward Joe van Niekerk is the current Toulon captain.
Comments
makemehappy says...
@ben7 - let's be fair - he was awful for SA for a few years. I blame the coach to a degree, but the bloke didn't look interested. Now an interested Habana is a class player of course!
Posted 10:17 13th January 2013
philipjfry says...
@Headhunter99: Not that it's any of your business, but it's a long ride to Ohmygodville on the frybus. Remember, it's rude to point.
Posted 16:35 11th January 2013
ben7 says...
@armchairgeneral
Yes because bryan habana with his 50(ish) international tries and being the best finisher in world rugby which he has been for the past 8 year is dull to watch.... Oh and about sarries? hasnt schalk brits just been soooo boring and dull? You want to watch a boring rugby nation? Try looking in the NH you idiot
Posted 12:22 11th January 2013
GoWalesGo says...
chocol8thunda
Yea we should just follow the NFL, it would be so simple... And of course the Top 14 and Aviva prem are struggling so much for crowds and exposure that they need to join this fantasy project...
Posted 12:21 11th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - not true, my friend. he was lured to the greatest club in the known universe, with promises of sleet, floods and plenty of Zumerzet zoider.
Posted 11:03 11th January 2013
Headhunter99 says...
@chocol8thunda - Good thought but would never work, to much small mindedness all over. Personally the big attraction of the Heineken Cup is the cultural experience when visitig French clubs... fantastic reception from the local fans.
@philipjfry - I imagine it was a short ride for Suzie !!!!
Posted 08:21 11th January 2013
GoWalesGo says...
Some real special cases on planet rugby comment pages...
Posted 05:18 11th January 2013
bzhjjm says...
@Isograford
Because France has a 30-team, well financed, professional structure. Unlike every other country in the world, their top players are spread over 8 or 9 teams.
Posted 05:07 11th January 2013
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi ArmchairGeneral,
Your bitchy comments put you firmly in the gutter along with Jonesy2, Trinats and BokAvenger.
As a South African I believe I have the right to watch the best SA rugby players here at home. The more that NH rugby clubs dominate rugby the less respect there is for international rugby over there. It happened with soccer and rugby is following the same path in my view.
Posted 04:31 11th January 2013
chocol8thunda says...
I just don't get the rugby mentality of to many foreigners. End the premiership, end top 14, rabo, hc. Make a euro league. 32 teams. Salary cap. 2 conferences, 4 divs in each. Playoffs. Winner plays champ of super 15.
Posted 03:54 11th January 2013
philipjfry says...
@Headhunter99: Suzie informed me differently while she was riding my beefbus this morning.
Posted 22:37 10th January 2013
Isograford says...
How do the French even field a national team with all the foreigners they have in their rugby these days.
The national sides that tend to be strongest..NZ and SAF inparticular, are the ones with the least amount of foreign players in their competitions. Long term eventually Europe may realise all these imports just weaken their game.
Posted 19:59 10th January 2013
Headhunter99 says...
I'm reliably informed that they have recruited Suzie the cook to prepare the food for any ex- All Blacks the opposition may bring along.
Allez Toulon... they do add a bit of fun to the proceedings
Posted 19:57 10th January 2013
JayStarr says...
@ APV1: Flo has already been poached... By Bath!
Posted 19:06 10th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Hopefully they'll poach some of Sarries South Africans because as they disperse I think Sarries will get more exciting to watch. Toulon will dull down if they do this and they just don't need to.
Posted 19:00 10th January 2013
RugbyLeRoux says...
Habana has been my favourite Bok for the last 8 or so years staking his claim as one of the best wingers of all time. Still has plenty to offer the Boks, please don't go Bryan!
Posted 18:43 10th January 2013
rolf says...
why is everyone complaoning?
i think it is neat to have the french super14 as the champions league for retiring superstars....
Posted 17:37 10th January 2013
APV1 says...
As long as they don't poach Flo, I'll stay reasonably happy.
Posted 16:57 10th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
There is a salary cap in France now, isn't there? Its just that the cap is set at a Bazillion Gazillion Billion Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Euros and a thousand berret wearing white persian cats called Monseur Biggles.
BRADLEY WIGGINS!!!!! Ha! That told 'em.
Posted 16:53 10th January 2013
JayStarr says...
I wonder how long it will take before the Toulon coach and all his new recruits realise that they are still only allowed to have 15 players on the field...
Posted 16:08 10th January 2013