Fourie's French adventure

Western Province captain Deon Fourie has been offered a contract by Toulon and expects to join the French Top14 club after the Currie Cup.

The dynamic hooker confirmed to this website in an exclusive interview that although he has not signed anything yet, Western Province coach Allister Coetzee knows that he is likely to leave at the end of the year.

"It is still depending on what is going on so I am not going to confirm anything yet.

"Allister [Coetzee] knows that I have had an offer, but I am still focused on the Currie Cup, I am still here until the end of October," said Fourie.

The hard-working front row forward showed his versatility this season by standing in at flank and No.8 for the Stormers during their Super Rugby campaign, a factor which makes him an attractive prospect to overseas clubs.

Fourie admitted that having played professional rugby in South Africa for eight years he is keen to expand his horizons, and if all goes well he expects to be training with Bakkies Botha, Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau and Joe van Niekerk in France by the end of the year.

"It will be nice, something different. I have been here for eight years now so maybe it is time to move in a new direction," he said.

By Michael de Vries