Steyn is coming home
World Cup-winning Springbok Francois Steyn is returning to his home country, South Africa, after a three-year sojourn in France.
His French club, Racing-Metro, said in a statement on Monday that the 24-year-old has finally decided to “go home”.
The club suggested he was “probably pushed” by the South African Rugby Football Union – who wished to “recover” one of its most valuable assets.
Racing President Jacky Lorenzetti said he “understand” Steyn’s decision to return home and thanked him “warmly” for three great seasons at the club.
“We must thank him for his contribution within the team and his formidable qualities as a player,” Lorenzetti said.
“He actively participated in the revival of Racing. As he has again showed [last] Friday against Castres, he will obviously be combative and efficient during the last few games.”
Steyn, in a recent post on Twitter said that the Sharks and Racing-Metro were the two outfits that were in the running for his services.
With Racing out the picture, it must be presumed that he will return to the Sharks.
However, officials in Durban on Monday declined to comment on the matter, suggesting that some formalities still had to be concluded.
A couple of weeks ago Sharks Chief Executive Brian van Zyl confirmed that they were trying to bring Steyn back to his home country.
Steyn, who has featured in 47 Tests since his debut against Ireland in November 2006, is renowned for his prodigious boot and rock-solid defence.
While coaches have had conflicting views as to which position suits Steyn best, he was a standout performer at inside centre for the victorious Bok team at the 2007 World Cup in France – impressing in that position at last year’s RWC too.
He has regularly featured for Racing in the No.12 jersey since joining them in 2009.
Steyn has started 13 Tests at fullback, 10 at inside centre, four at outside centre, as well as once at flyhalf and once at left wing. He has played off the bench in the rest of his internationals.
After playing only 10 matches for the Sharks in the 2006 Currie Cup competition, all at flyhalf, Steyn was, at 19, selected to represent South Africa in the northern hemisphere touring squad by then Bok coach Jake White.
He made his debut at wing against Ireland, scoring a try as the Boks went down in Dublin. However, in his next international match he was moved to fullback against England, scoring a long-range drop-goal from his own half.
His prodigious boot again came to the fore the next year.
He kicked two drop-goals in the 2007 Tri-Nations opener against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town, to win the game for the Springboks. One of these, a 42-metre effort from a fielded clearance kick next to the sideline, and another three minutes from time next to the posts about 30 metres out.
In South Africa’s first game at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, star centre Jean de Villiers got injured. Steyn replaced him, playing only his second game at professional level at inside centre, but he made a break on first touch of the ball and his inclusion sparked the Springboks to a 37-0 second-half demolition of Samoa.
Steyn was the starting inside centre for the Springboks in the 2007 World Cup Final. He made a fantastic break that resulted in a penalty for the Boks and also converted a long-range one himself later on in the game. He is therefore the youngest player to win a World Cup.
