Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies faces uncertain future

Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies faces an uncertain future at Bayonne, where he still has a year remaining on the two-year deal he signed when moving to the Basque Country last summer.

Jantjies, 30, played just under a hundred games for the Stormers before moving to Bayonne, where he has scored twice in 20 appearances after recovering from an early-season thumb injury.

But, according to reports in France, Bayonne’s director of rugby, Laurent Travers, is prepared to let him leave.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus recalled Jantjies for the Nations Championship this summer after a three-year absence, and he scored a try coming off the bench for Cobus Reinach in the 43-0 thrashing of Wales at King’s Park two weeks ago.

He has been retained in the squad for the clash with Argentina early next month, and with him likely to be away for the second part of the Nations Championship in November, it is understood that Bayonne are prepared to listen to offers.

Bayonne have already lost veteran former French international Maxime Machenaud to Racing 92, and ex-French under-20 international Baptiste Germain to Clermont. Travers was banking on Jantjies to become first choice.

He is now looking at Léo Coly and Baptiste Tilloles having to share duties if Jantjies, who has started only four of his 26 internationals, is away with the Boks.

RugbyPass understands that Erasmus is keen for Jantjies to play in South Africa for one of their United Rugby Championship sides, but there are currently no options available at any of the clubs, who have largely been shying away from signing Boks.

Bayonne might be keen to part company with Jantjies before the Top 14 campaign kicks off at the start of September, but it seems at this stage that he is unlikely to agree to move.

Midi Olympique are reporting that Bayonne are weighing up a move for Guillaume Rouet, who could leave Nice after their demotion from Pro D2 to the Championnat Fédéral Nationale.