Toulon have announced that Springbok superstar Eben Etzebeth will be leaving the club at the end of the current season.
According to a statement on the club’s website, Etzebeth will be released early from his contract to return to South Africa for personal reasons.
“Aware of the difficulties encountered by the player, Toulon took note of this request and accepted it,” said the club.
In the statement, Etzebeth said: “I am sad to have to leave Toulon and my teammates at the end of the season but personal reasons force me to do so.
“Toulon and its supporters welcomed me… I have the will to give everything with this team until the end of the season, to allow Toulon to perform, to move up in the standings and to be ambitious in the Challenge Cup.”
The 30-year-old suffered his third concussion in a year during South Africa’s 26-27 loss to England in their year-end international at Twickenham last November and hasn’t played for the French side since.
“After specialist advice and in accordance with the concussion management protocol of the National Rugby League, the player must observe a three-month break,” Toulon said in a statement.
Following that club president Bernard Lemaître has labelled Springbok lock Etzebeth as a “handicap” to the club as he is “expensive, is regularly injured and is often away on Test duty”.
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#9=. Owen Farrell (Saracens) – £750k
The England skipper is heading into the final year of his contract at Saracens and is reported to be earning a substantial amount of money on his current deal with a number of unknown bonuses thought to be included.
#9=. Michael Hooper (Toyota Verblitz) – £750k
Last season he took a sabbatical in Japan and is reported to have been earning £750,000 with Toyota Verblitz.
#8. Beauden Barrett (Suntory Sungoliath) – £780k
On his year out in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath last year, the Daily Mail reports Barrett earned £780,000.
#7. Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92) – £780k
Last year, Les Bleus’ centre signed a huge contract with Racing 92, according to reports in France.
