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Bakkies may extend Toulon stay

Cape Town - Bakkies Botha could extend his stint at French club Toulon by a few months before calling time on his playing career.

The veteran Springbok lock last month announced his retirement from international rugby after representing his country in 85 Tests.

At the time, Botha said he would see out his contract with Toulon until the end of the current European season, before possibly finishing his playing career at a local Currie Cup team in 2015.

However, it appears Botha could extend his stint at Toulon by a few more months.

He told French rugby website, Rugbyrama, he could help out at Toulon while several top players are away at the Rugby World Cup.

Botha said the issue could be discussed with owner Mourad Boudjellal to make him stay on for three or four months.

"But after Toulon, it's over. I go home and I watch rugby on TV."

During a stellar career, the 35-year-old lock won the Rugby World Cup with the Springboks in 2007 and was victorious at almost every other level of the game.

He has winners’ medals from the Rugby Championship (Tri-Nations), British & Irish Lions Series, Super Rugby, Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup, as well as the Heineken Cup and French Top 14.

Botha is the seventh most-capped Springbok of all time, is a three-time SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee (2003, 2004 and 2005) and holds the world record for the most Tests as a lock combination in the starting line-up with Victor Matfield (63).

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