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Cape Town - Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez appears to have called time on his career.
Du Preez, who scored a memorable try to sink Wales at last year’s Rugby World Cup, finished his tenure at Japanese club, Suntory Sungoliath, this past weekend.
He had been playing for the Japanese outfit since 2011.
A SARU spokesperson told Sport24 on Wednesday that while Du Preez has not officially announced his retirement, he is not contracted to SARU or any South African franchise.
Du Preez, 33, who was a stalwart at the Bulls before he left for Japan, played 76 Tests for the Springboks since making his debut in 2004.
Jesse Kriel, a team-mate of Du Preez at the Springboks, took to Twitter to congratulate him after playing his last game in Japan, as did Du Preez's former Bulls team-mate, loose forward Dewald Potgieter.
Potgieter, writing on his Instagram account, said: Only Fourie du Preez knows if this is the curtain coming down on his playing career. If it is, it just seems wrong that arguably the greatest 9 to ever play the game's exit might go by rather unnoticed. His club obviously appreciated him immensely, as did every team he ever played for. He was my first captain at the Bulls, and played a huge part in some of the best moments of my life, let alone my career. Thanks for sharing the pitch with me Porra. #legend
Privileged to have played with #FDP ! Goodbye to this legend of the game ???? pic.twitter.com/dOp0oahE7x
— Jesse Kriel (@JesseKriel15) January 27, 2016
