All three recent Springbok captains will now be playing in France next year after it was confirmed that Bobby Skinstad has signed for Perpignan.
This follows the confirmation that Victor Matfield and John Smit have signed contracts to play for Toulon and Clermont respectively.
Skinstad will join Philip Burger and Gerrie Britz who have also signed for Perpignan.
South Africa’s leading players are leaving the country in droves and it appears that SARU, despite words to the contrary from Oregan Hoskins, are doing nothing to prevent the talent-drain.
The players are concerned about the uncertainty around who will coach the Springboks next year. It has been reported that Pieter De Villiers is the likely successor to Jake White and that he plans to install Luke Watson as captain and bring in at least 10 ‘players of colour’ into the starting team.
De Villiers has already been quoted as saying that rugby supporters would have to put up with defeats as a matter of necessity next year.
The list of top departing players continues to grow and now reads as follows:
Victor Matfield – France – Toulon
John Smit – France – Clermont Ferrand
Bob Skinstad – France – Perpignon
Schalk Burger – France – Toulouse (Not confirmed yet)
Percy Montgomery – France – Perpignon
Breyton Paulse – France – Clermont Ferrand (Not confirmed yet)
Marius Joubert – France – Clermont Ferrand
Gerrie Britz – France – Perpignon
Philip Burger – France – Perpignon
Ronnie Cook – France – Brive
Lawrence Sephaka – France – Toulon
De Wet Barry – England – Harlequins
Joe van Niekerk – England – Northampton Saints
Butch James – England – Bath (Not confirmed yet)
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bye bye bobby – looks like he saw all his mates playing in europe for big moolah and decided he wanted a piece of the action. come back to sa, make the bok side, get a french contract and WAAI. welgedaan bobby! good move. 😀