Springbok star to take pay cut, return home?
· The South African
Towards the end of last year it was confirmed that Springbok veteran Faf de Klerk would be leaving his Japan club to return to South Africa for treatment after suffering an ankle injury in the Yokohama Canon Eagles’ season opener.
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It comes at a time when the 34-year-old was always expected to be in his final stint in Japan, where he has played his club rugby since 2022.
According to a recent report by RugbyPass, De Klerk has garnered interest from his former club the Sale Sharks, and could be leaving Japan after this season, while the Newcastle Red Bulls were also expected to enter the race for his signature in addition to a couple of French clubs.
Interestingly, though, weekend newspaper Rapport reported that the double World Cup winner could in fact opt to join the Cheetahs when his contract with the Canon Eagles expires in June.
Would it be a good career move for the Springbok stalwart?
De Klerk’s international career does seem to be winding down, but it is understood he may want to return to South Africa to be closer to his and his wife’s families.
A spell at the Cheetahs may not necessarily be the most obvious option for him to force his way back onto the Springbok radar, while he would be inevitably taking a pay cut of sorts if he opted to turn down lucrative offers from abroad.
Cheetahs are embarking on ambitious project
However, the Cheetahs have recently received a boost after the intervention of a consortium of local businessmen who, together with sponsors, have helped provide financial stability.
“The energy heading into 2026 is palpable,” the Board of Directors recently stated. “With Frans Steyn steering our rugby strategy, we aren’t just building a team; we are building a legacy that will redefine the next decade of Cheetahs rugby.”