De Villiers to continue club abroad

Newcastle

--

Retired Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers says he will continue his club career abroad -- possibly in England or Japan -- after recovering from a fractured jaw.

The injury in a huge Rugby World Cup win over Samoa last Saturday forced him out of the tournament and he later announced his retirement from Test rugby.

Western Stormers centre De Villiers spent this year recovering from knee ligament and fractured jaw injuries only to fracture the other side of his jaw against the Pacific islanders in Birmingham.

“I have not planned too far ahead,” De Villiers told a news conference in north-east city Newcastle, where South Africa play Scotland Saturday in a top-of-the-table Pool B match.

“I will have to think about it (club career) over the next couple of weeks. What I know is that I will not play in South Africa again.

“There are a couple of options here in England,” said the 34-year-old who won 109 Springbok caps during a 13-year Test career.

He hinted this year that he might play in Japan after the World Cup.

Playing abroad has become hugely attractive financially for South African rugby players -- especially those in the twilight of their careers -- with the rand depreciating nearly 20 percent against the dollar this year.

Lock Victor Matfield, at 38 the oldest Springbok at this World Cup, will join English Premiership outfit Northampton Saints after the tournament.

Most South Africans moving overseas favour Japan, England and France.

England