South Africa's 'female Pollard' seals Toulon move
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Women star Jakkie Cilliers has secured a major career move after French club Toulon signed the versatile playmaker, with the club’s head coach comparing her to Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard.
The 25-year-old utility back, who has earned 26 Test caps for South Africa, will join Toulon from the Bulls Daisies, South Africa’s first professional women’s rugby team.
The deal with RC Toulon is for the 2026/27 season, running from November 1, 2026 until June 30, 2027.
A proven match-winner, Cilliers has represented the Springboks at the historic 2025 Rugby World Cups.
She has amassed 103 international points.
Toulon head coach Stéphane Beyt-Gamonet believes the signing is the biggest in the club’s history after being blown away by her performance against the United States.
The Springbok Women shared the honours in their historic two-Test series against the USA, following a 34-21 victory at Ellis Park before suffering a 19-26 defeat at Loftus Versfeld.
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“It was done in a little over a week,” the coach revealed to Nice Matin, a French online news outlet.
“I watched the Test match between South Africa and the United States and, when I saw her kick during the game, I said to myself: ‘Oh là là, that’s not funny.’
“Then I replayed all the South African matches and, in the process, I got in touch with her.”
He stated that she is an amazing athlete with an incredible boot.
She played a pivotal role in the Bulls Daisies winning three consecutive Women’s Premier Division titles. She topped the points-scoring charts in 2025 with 127 points.
“She is a typical South African profile, with a mammoth kick, very tough in defence and attack, and a lot of experience at the highest level.”
Cilliers will replace Scotland international Chloe Rollie, who has returned home, but the coach believes the Springbok will bring a different dimension to the side.
“It’s a different profile,” Beyt-Gamonet said.
“Where Chloe was more dynamic, with a game based on speed, Jakkie Cilliers is more about the physical challenge and the length of the kicking game.
“She is a kind of female Handré Pollard.”
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“We are all incredibly excited about this opportunity,” She Moves Agency founder Monya Greyvenstein told Rugby365.
“From my perspective, Jakkie is joining a club that genuinely believes in her ability and recognises her talent. From our very first conversations with Toulon, they showed so much enthusiasm and confidence in what she can bring to the club.
“I think that kind of belief places any player in a fantastic mental space to perform at their best.”
As one of the fastest-growing women’s sports agencies in South Africa, Greyvenstein believes more moves like Cilliers’ are crucial for the growth of women’s rugby in the country.
“I believe opportunities like this are hugely important for South African women’s rugby.
“Giving our players the chance to compete internationally, experience different professional environments and improve their earning potential is another step towards greater equality in the game.
“South Africa has an incredible amount of talent, and I believe more of our women deserve opportunities like this.
“Ultimately, that exposure will not only benefit the players individually but will also contribute to the continued growth and standard of women’s rugby in South Africa.”
The 25-year-old’s love affair with the sport – and kicking – started later than most in 2021 when she was lured to train with the Leopards women’s team in Potchefstroom while playing netball for North-West University.
The oval quickly won her heart and the same year she was called up to train with the Springbok women.
During those early days in Potchefstroom, she was fortunate enough to draw on the expertise of Andre Pretorius, who was the Leopards men’s head coach at the time.
She joined the Bulls Daisies in 2023.
*Additional reporting: Nice Matin
