Springbok Pollard set to land £1m-a-season move - reports

Springbok and Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard could be heading to France at the end of this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan in what would be a major blow for the South African Rugby Union’s new contract model.

Sale were set to add prop Steven Kitshoff to their squad after the World Cup, but a counter offer was put together by the Union. Stormers and a local businessman which RugyPass understands was worth £650,000 – which was £150,000 more than the Sale contract each season..

According to Netwerk24 Pollard is reportedly wanted by Montpellier with the French Top 14 team offering around £1m a season.

Reports from South Africa suggest Montpellier have been in contact with Pollard over the past few days and offered him a contract worth about R20 million (£1.09m) a season. Alfonso Meyer, CEO of the Blue Bulls Company, said there has been no official offer but the Bulls were aware of Montpellier’s interest in their player.

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Pollard’s contract with the Bulls expires at the end of October and moving to Europe is no longer an end to a player’s Springbok career with current head coach Rassie Erasmus happy to select players such as Faf de Klerk, Francois Louw and Willie le Roux from the Gallagher Premiership

Pollard, 25-year-old, has won 39 Test caps, has been on the Bulls’ books since 2013 and is likely to play a vital role in the Springboks’ World Cup challenge later this year.

The new SARFU contracting arrangement has already been attacked by former Springbok assistant coach Brendan Venter who believes rewarding 75 players using succession planning would only help those at the top with players lower down the ladder suffering.

In other news: France say no to foreign coach.