Eben Etzebeth leaves Toulon following 'step down' period

Sunday, 13 February 2022 at 12:01

byRugby Rucker

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.

Jared Wright

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Eben Etzebeth will leave the RCT at the end of the season; he has been granted an early release as he wishes to return to South Africa #SaffasAbroad

8:14 AM · Feb 13, 2022

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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”.

Gallery: World’s highest-paid rugby players in 2022

#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.

virimi vakatawa scotland v france natwest elc12zk5lajx

#6. Maro Itoje (Saracens) - £800k

When Itoje was rumoured to be interested in joining Racing 92 last year, club president Jacky Lorenzetti let slip that the lock wanted €1million for the deal to go through.

Exact figures on Itoje's current salary at Saracens vary but it is widely reported that he is bringing home in excess of £800,000.

#4=. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) - £850k

The speedster hit the financial jackpot with his summer switch from Toulouse to Top 14 rivals Toulon. He now warns an annual salary of €1million after they buy out the remainder of his contract from the recent league/Champions Cup double winners.

#4=. Finn Russell (Racing 92) - £850k

The talented fly-half signed a new three-year deal with Racing 92 last year. The Rugby Paper report he is earning as much as £850,000 with the Paris-based club.

#3. Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) - £900k

The Springbok enforcer is in the midst of a three-year deal in the south of France and is widely reported to be earning just shy of £1m.

#1=. Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears) - £1m

For some time, the speedstee has been reported to be earning £1m at Bristol Bears and he became the first player in British rugby to do so when he joined the club from Ulster.

#1=. Handre Pollard (Montpellier) - £1m

He moved alongside Piutau as the joint-highest paid player on the planet when he signed for Montpellier after the Springboks won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Will drop down the rankings when he joins Leicester Tigers in the summer.