Scrumhalf Ross Cronjé has signed a two-year contract extension to remain at the Lions until the end of 2020.

The Lions have lost the services of several high-profile players in recent weeks, but on Tuesday, Cronjé confirmed that he will not follow suit.

‘I’ve signed for another two years with the Lions. I absolutely love it in Johannesburg; my family is here, the bush is around the corner, the sun’s out all day, every day, and the beach is only an hour-long flight away,’ Cronjé said.

The 28-year-old suggested that while lucrative offers from foreign clubs is a big reason for the continued exodus of top-rated players from around the country, his ambition to return to the Springbok fold drove his decision to stay.

‘A rugby career is only so long and you’ve got to make the most of it. However, if you still have a dream of playing in the World Cup and competing against the best, you have to stay here and play Super Rugby, which I believe only improves your game because it is one of the hardest competitions in the world.

‘Going overseas sets you up for life after rugby [financially]. A lot of the guys are sad to be leaving, but they are doing it for their families, otherwise they’d be staying here. But at the same time, if you are smart enough, you can set yourself up while playing professional rugby here too.’

Cronjé, who missed a large part of the season due to a rib injury and was subsequently left out of the Springbok squad for the series against England, has 10 Test caps.

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