The Star Late Edition

Jan to ditch Bulls for Top 14

- JACQUES VAN DER WESTHUYZEN

FORMER star Junior Springbok captain and Bulls centre Jan Serfontein is apparently heading to France.

The 24-year-old, who has played 26 Tests for the Boks and scored two tries for the national team, but missed out on selection to the 2015 World Cup in England, has reportedly been linked with French clubs Toulon – currently placed fourth in the Top 14 – and Montpellie­r – placed third in the same league and coached by former Springbok and 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning mentor Jake White – after turning down a lucrative offer to remain in South Africa.

Serfontein, an alumnus of both Grey High School in Port Elizabeth – where he was born – and Grey College in Bloemfonte­in, is said to not be interested in extending a dual deal where the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and the Blue Bulls pay his salary.

Saru, however, stated yesterday they and the Bulls had offered the centre an improved package to stay in South Africa until 2019, but according to a SA Rugby spokesman, “he informed the parties concerned of his desire to explore playing opportunit­ies abroad, and in view of this, Jan has therefore opted not to renew the national contract offered to him.”

Serfontein’s current contract expires at the end of the year, but the Bulls are apparently willing to release the player earlier than that if he requests an early exit.

Much depends on whether he forms part of Allister Coetzee’s Springbok squad for the June series against France.

If he is not involved – and right now it seems there is no point in him being roped into action – he will leave for France immediatel­y after the Bulls complete their Super Rugby fixtures.

Serfontein captained the SA Under-20 team at the Junior World Championsh­ips in 2012 and was named IRB Junior Player of the Year.

He made his Springbok debut a year later at Kings Park against Italy, replacing Bryan Habana off the bench, and while he has played some good rugby for the Bulls, whom he joined in 2012, and the Boks, he has never quite fitted into crash-ball-style employed by both those teams.

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Nollis Marais will today name his team to take on the Cheetahs in a muchantici­pated derby to be played at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Bulls are coming off a morale-boosting win against the Jaguares, while the Cheetahs will be desperate to pick up a rare victory after giving up a 24-0 lead against the Chiefs last week to lose 41-27.

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