Faf de Klerk set to return to Japan.. soon

Yokohama Canon Eagles star Faf de Klerk will return to Japan ‘soon’ the Springboks star has announced.

The 34-year-old, who has been in talks with Top 14’s basement outfit Perpignan, has been recuperating in South Africa from an ankle injury sustained in round one of the League One competition in December.

Leon MacDonald’s relegation-threatened side lost their seventh game of the season 53-31 against Black Rams Tokyo on Saturday.

Yokohama, who are captained by Jesse Kriel – the first non-Japanese player in the role in their history – have also been without Italian lock Dino Lamb and hard-working Kiwi flanker Billy Harmon since 17 January.

Double World Cup winner de Klerk posted on his Instagram account on Sunday: “See you soon Japan.”

Faf de Klerk's IG post on Sunday

The former Sale Sharks scrum-half was de-registered in January and his Category C (players capped by a country other than Japan) spot has since gone to new signing Liam Coltman.

Ex-All Blacks hooker Coltman, 36, made his League One debut against Saitama Wild Knights on 17 January and marked his first start by scoring against Kobe Steelers a week later.

MacDonald’s latest signing played the final 16 minutes in the win over Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s basement outfit Toyota Verblitz a week ago but was left out of the 23 in the loss to the Black Rams on Saturday.

Coltman remains registered to play and will have to make way for the returning Springbok.

Fan favourite de Klerk previously stated that he was hopeful of returning to play in the final rounds of the regular season in May.

“I felt I really worked hard to come back and be ready for this season but I'm going back to make sure I get in the best condition possible to come back, join the team again and support if I'm not playing,” said the 2019 and 2023 World Cup winner.

“I'll be back as soon as possible to see all the supporters and players and hopefully join the last few games.”

Yokohama will face Sam Cane and Cheslin Kolbe’s Suntory Sungoliath at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday in round nine.

RugbyJP.com exclusively revealed on Sunday that All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan is currently in Japan for a guest coach role with the club.

This weekend marks the halfway point of the competition with lowly Yokohama in 11th place and facing the prospect of a two-leg relegation/promotion play-off in May.

The division one team which finishes 11th will face the team which finishes second in the second division (currently Noah Lolesio’s Toyota Shuttles Aichi).

Division one’s basement team (currently Toyota Verblitz) will face the division two winners (currently Manie Libbok’s unbeaten Kintetsu Liners).

Following Sunday’s trip to Tokyo to face Suntory, Yokohama will entertain Malcolm Marx and Shaun Stevenson’s once-beaten Kubota Spears before trips to Franco Mostert’s Honda Heat and Ardie Savea’s Kobe in March ahead of a crucial battle at the foot of the table against Toyota Verblitz at home on 28 March.

Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for the latest of Faf de Klerk’s return to Japan