Top 14 rugby: Eben Etzebeth extends his contract at Toulon

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has extended his stay at French club, Toulon by another three years.

The 28-year-old made the move to France shortly after South Africa’s successful World Cup campaign in November 2019.

Eben Etzebeth signs new deal

The club confirmed on Thursday that the 85-Test veteran will remain at the French Riviera until 2024

“In the long-term sporting project wanted by Bernard Lemaitre and set up by Patrice Collazo and Laurent Emmanuelli, Eben Etzebeth will be one of the club’s senior players, responsible for providing their experience and supervising promising young players from the academy,” a statement on the club’s official website reads.

“The entire RCT team is delighted with the confidence given by Eben Etzebeth to the Toulon project and looks forward to seeing it again on the TOP 14 pitches, with all of its teammates, from the start of the 2020-2021 season.”

Racing Club Toulon

Longer stay for Bok lock

Etzebeth had made eight appearances for Toulon before the Top 14 was suspended due to the global pandemic.

The former Bok skipper also got on the scoresheet on his debut match – a 41-19 win over Clermont Auvergne – where he ran half the length of the field to dot down.

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— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) July 23, 2020

“I was planning on coming for two years, but I was always thinking of probably staying longer,” Etzebeth said.

“It’s nice to finally settle down in a place, find your feet, and I think Toulon is definitely a town where I can do that. “It’s by the ocean; great weather, great people, a home away from home.”

Eben Etzebeth

Etzebeth made over 60 Super Rugby appearance for the Stormers, crossing over the whitewash four times.

His previous overseas stint came in 2015 when he signed a deal to join NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in the Japanese Top League.