Rugby-Springbok stalwart Du Toit to leave Japanese club with immediate effect

The Star Malaysia · Reuters · 2026-11-06 14:23 UTC

CAPE TOWN, Nov ⁠6 (Reuters) - Two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph ⁠du Toit is the latest South African ‌international to announce a departure from Japan and will be leaving Toyota Verblitz with immediate effect, the club announced on Friday.

CAPE TOWN, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit is the latest South African international to announce a departure from Japan and will be leaving Toyota Verblitz with immediate effect, the club announced on Friday.

• Du Toit, who was named the world's bestplayer in 2019 and 2024, asked for early termination of his contract after spending the past five seasons atVerblitz

• The 34-year-old forward, who was part of the Springboks' World Cup-winning teams in 2019 and 2023, said in a club statement that he did not want to travel back and forth between South Africa and Japan during the upcoming season while his family remained in South Africa

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