Its official, Francois Steyn arrived in France on Monday where he met his new teammates at Parisian outfit Racing-Metro. Seems there will be no rest for the wicked as he will start training immediately and may be included in the squad for this coming Saturday already.
His team is struggling and only one from the wrong end of the log of the Top 14 league and badly need him and his kickingability!
At age 19 he was the youngest ever World Cup winner and is hoping his move to France on a three year contract will not preclude him from playing in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand in 2011. This will of course mean a change of heart from P Divvie who believes we have enough talent to cover any losses and see little need to play overseas players.
Lets see how long he clings to that but suffice to say the three monstrous penalties – from 53 metres, 58 metres and 60 metres – he landed two weeks ago will be remembered for a long time.
Some stats on Frans:
Full name: Francois Philippus Lodewyk
Surname: Steyn
Height: 191cm
Weight: 110kg
Birth date: 14 May 1987
Birth city: Aliwal North
Primary school: Truida Kestell, Bethlehem
Secondary school: Grey College, Bloemfontein
Springbok career:
Test debut: 11 November 2006 v Ireland in Dublin, aged 19
Last Test: 12 September 2009 v New Zealand in Hamilton, aged 22
Positions: Centre (14 Tests), fullback (14 Tests), flyhalf (five Tests), wing (three Tests)
Club: Collegians RFC
Province: Kwazulu-Natal (debut 2006)
Springbok number: 783
Total Tests: 36
Tour matches: Two
Total Springbok matches: 38
Tries: Five
Conversions: Five
Penalties: 14
Drop-goals: Three
Test points: 86
Tours: Ireland & England, 2006; Ireland & Scotland, 2007; RWC in France, Wales & Scotland, 2007; Wales & England, 2007; British Isles, 2008.
SA Under-19 Player of the Year, 2006; Most Promising Player of the Year, 2007.
Good luck Frans.
Hope it turns out well.
He has the potential to be a great of world rugby.
It will depend on how well he is managed in the long run and hopefully staying injury free.
To not use him at international level because he is out of the country will simply be somebody elses gain and our loss!!
@tight head – would be sheer madness………. something that old Pdivvy is quite good at sometimes 😆 Dont get me wrong I like Pdivvy and he provides a lot of entertainment
what i cant understand is why did his agent negotiate a 3 year deal knowing what the current selection policy is regarding picking overseas based players, especially since steyn has made it known that he is keen to be picked for the wc2011. or is it not that important to him….unless he is back here before the wc kicks off. rather confusing.
4@Martin – Geld, geld, geld…. dis die rede vir die 3-jaar deal.
Maar watch, Fransie Steyn sal terug wees binne 2 jaar… kyk hoe vinnig wou Matfield terugkom. Dis ‘n ander land, ander kultuur… mens mis mens eie land en sy mense…
@tight head – Unfortunately I don’t think you can say “a world great” and “lot’s of money” in same sentence. Not if you’re a Saffa anyway.
Look at somebody like Soverby. Nobody is talking bout him, cause his not playing for his country. Yet he must be one of the most capped players in French club rugby, obviously rolling in money too.
Well i hope there is some kind of clause in his contract that he doesnt have to stay for 3 years, i think he might be regretting signing for so long. Oh and the 8 million is that for the whole 3 years or per year.
@tight head – 2
Agree 100%. Damn how the Sharks going to miss this youngster. Also hoping that PdV still select him. Just far, far too much talent there to be ignored. Pity that he left for overseas so young.
@Martin – 4
Yes I wonder about these agents really. I wonder how much they make out of it?
Steyn should have gone for 6 months to test out the water so to speak. Then came back here a year before the world cup.
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