Munster rugby this week announced that their liking for South African centres is alive and well as they confirmed that Jean de Villiers and his representative have agreed terms that will see the 28-year-old join Munster at the conclusion of the South African’s involvement in the Tri Nations competition.
De Villiers began his career as a winger but quickly slotted into the rough and tumble of the centre role, one that he has made his own as he plied his trade in the Southern Hemisphere.
Playing domestically with Western Province and in the Super 14 franchise team of the Stormers, de Villiers made his impact at international level firstly on the South African sevens team.
In the same year, 2002, de Villiers locked horns for the first time in the 15 man game at U21 level and scored four tries during the tournament that saw his side lift the Junior Rugby World Cup.
de Villiers made his first appearance at senior level in November 2002 but suffered a major knee injury that ruled him out of the game for some time.
Rehabilitated and focused, the South African centre returned to the game the following season and built upon his earlier impact throughout his career.
Captaining his country against a World XV in 2006, de Villiers has clocked up some 48 caps for his country to date including test matches against the Lions this Summer and this weekend partners Jaque Fourie in the centre for their Tri Nations battle with the All Blacks.
de Villiers was captain for the Stormers in this season’s Super 14 campaign where the side finished in 10th behind fellow South African franchises, the Bulls and the Sharks. The 2008 SA player of the year is expected to arrive in Munster ahead of the ERC registration date, September 17.
Meanwhile, It has been confirmed that Ireland & Munster hooker Frank Sheahan has decided to call time on his rugby career. Sheahan (32) had planned to extend that career with French club Brive who had agreed terms for a two year contract. However, Sheahan, capped 29 times by Ireland, aggravated a pectoral muscle injury in his 163rd and final game for Munster against Ospreys in April. “I had injured the pec against Connacht at Christmas and at that stage the medics reckoned it’s a career ending injury.” he explained, “but I’d been in this position before, had an operation on it in January and with the help of the Munster medical team and fitness coaches I got back into contention for selection for the end of the season games. However I took another knock in that game and soon after accepted what the medics were telling me and decided to call it a day.”
