IT is increasingly possible that Francois Steyn could be back in the black and white of the Sharks for the second half of the Super Rugby competition, and before that, in the green and gold of the Springboks for the home series in June against England.
On Monday, Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl confirmed that the Durban union recently met Steyn and his agent Gerrie Swart, and agreed preliminary terms for his return from Racing Metro in Paris to the union where he made his mark as a teenager after joining the Sharks Academy straight out of Grey College in Bloemfontein in 2005.
Steyn, who has played 47 Tests before his 25th birthday (coming up on May 14), left the Sharks and indeed SA in 2008 after a fallout with then Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, who tried to play hard ball with a youngster who wanted to continue to play for the Boks but had been made a massive offer by the French club.
Steyn had hoped a compromise could be reached, but left the meeting with the combative De Villiers in tears.
He threw his hands in the air and went to France.
While Steyn and De Villiers eventually negotiated an entente cordiale that resulted in Steyn playing for the Boks in the 2011 World Cup, current Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has been conciliatory towards the hugely talented youngster.
At the same time, he has suggested that he needs to resume playing in SA to be in strong contention, and probably for the inside centre berth in which he has proved so effective for the Boks at two World Cups.
Steyn was brilliant in the position at the 2007 World Cup after taking over from Jean de Villiers, who had been seriously injured in the first-round match against Samoa, and became the youngest ever World Cup winner, a record he still holds.
In New Zealand last year he was again powerful at No 12, only to be ironically injured against Samoa in the final Pool match, opening the door for De Villiers to return from injury to the side that played in the fateful quarter-final against Australia in Wellington.
Van Zyl said: “We have had productive discussions, but nothing has been finalised because of the issue of a possible contract with SA Rugby that would need to be part of the process of him returning to SA. Hopefully everything will be sorted out, and if that is the case he would be able to play for us after the French season ends in June. The key thing is that all parties want Francois to return to SA.”
Super Rugby pauses during the incoming tour by England and then resumes in August.
While other unions will no doubt make their offers for Steyn, the Free State-schooled star is known to be keen on moving back to Durban where he has a home and is to marry a local girl in June. Steyn has started for the Springboks at 10, 12, 13 14 and 15.
He has scored nine tries for the Boks, four drop goals, and was a nominee for IRB Player of the Year in 2009. – The Mercury