Reports in France suggest that Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe has agreed a deal to leave Toulouse for a French Top 14 rival.
According to beIN Sports, Kolbe will leave Toulouse to join Toulon, despite still being contracted until 2023 with the French and European champions.
Kolbe has reportedly signed a three-year deal with Toulon and will join his new club from 28 October.
It means that the 2020-21 season was the 28-year-old’s last with Toulouse, as he helped them claim the French Top 14 and European Champions Cup double.
Having arrived in France from the Stormers in 2017, Kolbe has been a major part of a successful era for Toulouse, having also won the Top 14 title in 2019. In total, he made 82 appearances for the club, scoring 172 points.
Kolbe will join Springbok teammate and lock Eben Etzebeth at Toulon, who have also contracted South African-born players Quinn Roux and Cornell du Preez for the new season.
His departure will come as something of a blow for Toulouse, as the club has already seen veteran loose forward Jerome Kaino retire and missed out on potentially signing England back Jonathan Joseph and All Blacks centre Ngani Laumape, who chose to join Stade Francais instead.
Toulon will have to wait until December for Kolbe to make his debut for the club, as he will continue to be involved with the Springboks in the Rugby Championship until October and will likely be part of the squad for the end-of-year tour in November.
