Bismarck and Jannie's departure confirmed
That club is likely to be French club Montpellier, where former Springbok and Sharks coach Jake White is at the helm.
The brothers’ agent, Gerrie Swart, told The Mercury newspaper that their move will be “out of South Africa”.
Swart said playing for another South African franchise was never a consideration. He said their likely destination would be Montpellier as that is the only club he’s been in contact with. Swart, though, admitted that “paperwork has not been fully attended to”.
It is well-documented that the brothers’ relationship with White was not the best and according toThe Mercury, they wanted to get out of their commitment with Montpellier (a deposit of €150 000 per player had reportedly been paid to them) once they heard White had become coach of the French club.
However, it appears that despite the best efforts of the SA Rugby Union and the Sharks, the poor pulling power of the rand will not be enough to keep the Du Plessis brothers in South Africa.
Apart from White, there is already a large South African contingent at Montpellier.
Shaun Sowerby is White's assistant coach, while Pat Cilliers (prop) and Robert Ebersohn (centre) already ply their trade there.
Schalk van der Merwe (Lions, prop), Demetri Catrakilis (Stormers, flyhalf), Jacques du Plessis (Bulls, loose forward/lock), Cameron Wright (Sharks, scrumhalf/flyhalf), Wiaan Liebenberg (Bulls, loose forward) Paul Willemse (Grenoble, lock) will also join from the 2015/16 season.
Former Lions prop Jacobie Adriaanse will also join Montpellier for a shirt stint until after the Rugby World Cup (October 31).
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
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