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Double World Cup winner Frans Steyn sounds ready to put the farm before rugby

Frans Steyn with the Webb Ellis Cup after South Africa's Yokohama win over England (Photo by Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Two-time World Cup-winning Springbok Frans Steyn appears set to call time on his European club adventure and exit Montpellier at the end of January rather than what for his current contract to expire next July. 

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Fresh from picking up his second World Cup winners medal in a final versus England twelve years after winning his first against the same opposition, the 32-year-old is ready to put his young family ahead of continuing his rugby career in Europe. 

Steyn is due back at Montpellier on November 19 following the Springboks champions tour of South Africa with the Webb Ellis Cup. 

It is believed he has already been in negotiation with Montpellier to prematurely end his deal as he reportedly wants to settle on the family farm in Bloemfontein and offer the same education to his children that he received.  

Speaking to South African newspaper Volksblad, Steyn explained: “Rugby has always been an inspiration for the Afrikaners, especially for farmers. If we had a bad week, if we watch good rugby on Saturday, then everything is better again. 

(Continue reading below…)

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“Only good rain, a good rugby weekend gives us the power to face Mondays again. It is a privilege that many farmers do not have.

“We know what to do in the future and what we need to have in place. We want to raise our children here and are attached to the rural feel that Bloemfontein offers. We want our children to have a good experience here as my wife and I had when one grew up here.”

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Attached to Montpellier since 2016, it apparently is not the first time that Steyn has mentioned retiring to the farm. However, this time it might just happen as it remains to be seen whether he would continue his rugby career locally with the Cheetahs in the PRO14 of the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. 

WATCH: RugbyPass RugbyExplorer takes a trek through South African rugby in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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