Springbok forward set to return home after stellar Montpellier career

The one-Test cap back-five forward joined the French outfit in 2016, racking up over 150 appearances with the club since and has won a Challenge Cup and Top 14 title.

A lineout general, Janse van Rensburg has played much of his rugby on the side of the scrum for Montpellier but is equally comfortable in the second row.

The 30-year-old earned his only cap for the Springboks back in 2021, making his Test debut against Argentina in Port Elizabeth.

However, he is still in the Bok selection frame after earning a call-up to Rassie Erasmus' squad during the 2024 Rugby Championship. 

He did not earn a second cap for South Africa with Bulls star Ruan Nortje preferred, however, a return to South Africa could boost his chances and according to a report by Midi Olympique, the forward will leave France next year after requesting an early release from his contract with Montpellier which expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.

The report states that he has made the request for âœpersonal reasons❠with the club's leaders willing to accept considering the player's service to the side over the years.

Janse van Rensburg has played seven times for Montpellier this season, starting all seven of those matches featuring twice in the second row and five times on the side of the scrum.

The publication does not mention which South African team he could join next season but the Bulls are likely to be the front-runner with Janse van Rensburg being born and bred in Pretoria.

He attended Affies and represented the Bulls at youth level before representing the side in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby. The forward also signed for Montpellier when Jake White was in charge of the French club.

He is not the only Springbok at Montpellier who is set to return to South Africa with the Bulls in talks to secure Jan Serfontein's services while Cobus Reinach has been linked with a move to the Stormers.

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