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Cape Town - Springbok wing Bryan Habana will leave the Stormers after this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby competition to join French Top 14 club, Toulon.
Final draw for the 2013 Super Rugby season
Die Burger was reliably informed that Habana penned the deal with the French side in the last few days.
This comes after Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal confirmed last month that the Top 14 leaders were in hot pursuit of the Springbok flyer. Boudjellal said at the time the chances of Habana joining Toulon were "closer to 10 than zero."
Toulon already have South African loose forward Joe van Niekerk and lock Bakkies Botha on their books. Former Springbok utility forward Danie Rossouw will also arrive from Suntory Sungoliath in Japan after their 2012/13 season concludes.
At this stage it's unsure exactly how long Habana, 29, will play in France, nor whether he will be available for the Springboks' Incoming Tests against Italy and Scotland in June.
The news will come as a blow to the Cape side as Habana was in top form last season, which saw him named SA Player of the Year for a third time.
Habana also won the Try of the Year award at last year's IRB awards, for his outstanding solo effort against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship in Dunedin.
The 2013 Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday, February 15, with the Stormers due to play their first match on Friday, February 22 against Habana's former team, the Bulls, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
HAVE YOUR SAY: How big a loss will Bryan Habana be to WP, the Stormers and the Springboks? Is the growing exodus of SA players due in main to Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's openness to selecting overseas-based players? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
Final draw for the 2013 Super Rugby season
Die Burger was reliably informed that Habana penned the deal with the French side in the last few days.
This comes after Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal confirmed last month that the Top 14 leaders were in hot pursuit of the Springbok flyer. Boudjellal said at the time the chances of Habana joining Toulon were "closer to 10 than zero."
Toulon already have South African loose forward Joe van Niekerk and lock Bakkies Botha on their books. Former Springbok utility forward Danie Rossouw will also arrive from Suntory Sungoliath in Japan after their 2012/13 season concludes.
At this stage it's unsure exactly how long Habana, 29, will play in France, nor whether he will be available for the Springboks' Incoming Tests against Italy and Scotland in June.
The news will come as a blow to the Cape side as Habana was in top form last season, which saw him named SA Player of the Year for a third time.
Habana also won the Try of the Year award at last year's IRB awards, for his outstanding solo effort against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship in Dunedin.
The 2013 Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday, February 15, with the Stormers due to play their first match on Friday, February 22 against Habana's former team, the Bulls, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
HAVE YOUR SAY: How big a loss will Bryan Habana be to WP, the Stormers and the Springboks? Is the growing exodus of SA players due in main to Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's openness to selecting overseas-based players? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
