Jean to finish career outside SA

Cape Town - Jean de Villiers says he will further his professional career overseas and not in South Africa.

The centre on Sunday announced his retirement from international rugby after suffering a fractured jaw in the Rugby World Cup match against the Samoa the previous day.

De Villiers was speaking at a press conference in Newcastle when he signalled his intentions to further his career abroad.

De Villiers earlier this year indicated that he may head for Japan after the World Cup, but England could also be an option, he admitted.

“To be honest I haven’t planned too far ahead. It will be good to go home and see the family for a bit. I will have to think about it over the next couple of weeks. What I know is that I won’t play in South Africa again. I have a few options here in England. That decision will come at a later stage,” De Villiers was quoted as saying by SARugbymag.

The 34-year-old, who captained the Boks 37 times, has retired as the second most capped Springbok captain of all time, and is currently the fourth most capped player in the history of South African Test rugby, with 109.

“When I got injured yesterday (on Saturday) and I left the field, I knew that I had played my last Test for South Africa,” said De Villiers, who became the 54th Springbok captain when he was appointed by Heyneke Meyer in June 2012.