Another club sets crosshairs on Bok veteran Faf de Klerk

Pau are the latest club to enquire about veteran Springbok Faf de Klerk as his contract with Japan Rugby League One side Yokohama Canon Eagles expires later this year.

Pau, who are the Top 14’s surprise package this season and are nine points behind leaders Toulouse and a point in front of third-placed Bordeaux, have been negotiating with former All Black scrum-half Aaron Smith.

Smith, who celebrated his 37th birthday in November, was a member of the All Blacks squad that won the 2015 Rugby World Cup and is currently playing in Japan Rugby League One for Toyota Verblitz, but no deal has been finalised.

Pau need to replace Gloucester-bound Dan Robson and are exploring alternatives, and are now prepared to compete with Perpignan for De Klerk.

De Klerk, 35, is out of contract with Yokohama Canon Eagles at the end of the season but has been deregistered after suffering an ankle injury while tackling Shizuoka Blue Revs wing Valynce Te Whare in December.

A member of the Springboks’ two victorious World Cup squads in 2019 and 2023, he hopes to return to action before the end of the Japanese season and the recent injury isn’t deterring French clubs from trying to sign him.

Perpignan president François Rivière mentioned two weeks ago that he believed his club, which has three scrum-halves out of contract this summer, was the favourite to sign the former Sale Sharks star.

That was despite having a healthy budget to attract a big-name player, though they were concerned that De Klerk’s wage demands might prevent the deal going ahead.

“He’s in Japan, he’s nearing the end of his career, and he’s 35. He’s not cheap. I think he’s the frontrunner,” Rivière said, though his worst fears could now be realised if Pau manage to secure him ahead of them.

Perpignan have been exploring a couple of alternatives, including Zebre’s Gonzalo Garcia and Leinster star Luke McGrath, two of the names they have discussed.