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Cape Town - Former Junior Springbok wing Wandile Mjekevu is hoping to represent the French national team in future.
Mjekevu, 22, caught the eye as a teenager in 2010 when he scored a hat-trick playing for the Lions against the Chiefs in a Super Rugby game at Ellis Park.
He is big and strong (1.90m and 94kg) and was tipped by many as a future Springbok.
However, since that season his career went on a downward spiral and when he joined the Sharks in 2012 he struggled for game time.
He still played club rugby in Durban earlier this year but has since revived his career in France.
He got a chance at Top 14 club Perpignan for whom he has excelled in recent times. He scored two spectacular tries in a recent Heineken Cup win over Edinburgh and even got a chance to play against his childhood idol, Jonny Wilkinson who plays for Toulon.
Mjekevu, in an interview with Die Burger's website, said his future now lies in France.
"One day I'd like to play for France, but my current focus is with Perpignan. I've set myself new goals and want to play for Perpignan on a regular basis and see my long-term future here.
"There are negotiations to extend my contract here to two years. South Africa is not an option. I've met a girl here and I love the life in France," said Mjekevu.
Mjekevu, 22, caught the eye as a teenager in 2010 when he scored a hat-trick playing for the Lions against the Chiefs in a Super Rugby game at Ellis Park.
He is big and strong (1.90m and 94kg) and was tipped by many as a future Springbok.
However, since that season his career went on a downward spiral and when he joined the Sharks in 2012 he struggled for game time.
He still played club rugby in Durban earlier this year but has since revived his career in France.
He got a chance at Top 14 club Perpignan for whom he has excelled in recent times. He scored two spectacular tries in a recent Heineken Cup win over Edinburgh and even got a chance to play against his childhood idol, Jonny Wilkinson who plays for Toulon.
Mjekevu, in an interview with Die Burger's website, said his future now lies in France.
"One day I'd like to play for France, but my current focus is with Perpignan. I've set myself new goals and want to play for Perpignan on a regular basis and see my long-term future here.
"There are negotiations to extend my contract here to two years. South Africa is not an option. I've met a girl here and I love the life in France," said Mjekevu.
