Faf de Klerk targeted by shock suitors as Springboks veteran to ease positional crisis

Double Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks scrum-half Faf de Klerk is being targeted by a Top 14 club.

The 33-year-old has played just once for South Africa this year, and despite being omitted from Rassie Erasmus’ Rugby Championship squad, he was called in as injury cover while they were in New Zealand.

De Klerk has remained in the set-up for the home fixture against Argentina in Durban and has made no secret of his desire to represent his country at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

French club interested in Faf

But before then, he could be switching Japan for France, with the experienced halfback reportedly on Toulon’s radar, with two scrum-halves’ futures uncertain beyond this season.

According to Midi Olympique, Ben White and Baptiste Serin could leave Toulon following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season and after failing to land the signature of Montpellier’s Leo Coly, who has opted to join Bayonne instead, their attentions have turned to De Klerk.

Meanwhile, France international Baptiste Jauneau also rejected a ‘good offer’ from Toulon, which he turned down to remain at Clermont instead.

White and Serin’s contracts expire at the end of the season, with the latter being courted by Montpellier to replace Coly, while the former’s future is very much unclear.

De Klerk’s contract with Japanese club Canon Eagles reportedly ends at the end of the upcoming season, and the report states that he is being offered to Top 14 clubs, which has piqued Toulon’s interest.

Toulon boss Pierre Mignoni addressed the rumours around his scrum-halves at a press conference, expressing annoyance in the reports of the number nines leaving the team.

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“It annoys me,” said Mignoni. “As soon as there is a new player on the market, everyone sends him to Toulon. The rumours are false.

“Apparently, the world of agents can afford to bring players to clubs, just like that… I haven’t been informed! We are working hard to keep White and Serin. I want us to stop with this. Every day, if I hear or read, there is a scrum-half arriving here.

“I have the impression that Toulon is the easy target as soon as there is a world-class player on the market. There are even former players who are fortune tellers. For the moment, they are here, and each takes care of himself.”

While Mignoni was peeved about the reports around Serin and White, Montpellier defence coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde revealed interest in Serin on Sud Radio.

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Albornoz to Toulon?

De Klerk could join Argentine fly-half Tomas Albornoz at the French club with Midi Olympique reporting that he is close to completing a two-year deal with the side.

The number 10 has been a real standout for Los Pumas since Felipe Contepomi took over as head coach, while starring for Benetton Treviso too, catching the eye of the Top 14 giants.

However, the report adds that the contract has not yet been signed, with finer details of his deal needing to be ironed out.

Toulon still need to discuss with the Argentine federation the terms of his release, particularly regarding international periods ahead of the next World Cup. This has been a touchy subject with Toulon previously, notably with Springboks forward Eben Etzebeth.

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