French club confirms talks with Yokohama’s Faf de Klerk

Top 14’s basement outfit Perpignan have confirmed that they have held talks with Yokohama Canon Eagles scrum-half Faf de Klerk.

The Catalan club's president François Rivière and general manager Bruno Rolland revealed on the 100% USAP radio show that the Springboks stalwart is on their wanted list for the 2026/2027 season.

Rivière said that the 34-year-old, who is currently in his homeland recovering from an ankle injury, is someone they have spoken to and remain in contact with.

He added that the struggling side is talking to other two other scrum-halves.

The two-time World Cup winner, who lasted 34 minutes in the opening round against Shizuoka, will hope that the club is not put off by his salary demands and recent run of injuries.

Yokohama’s injury-hit star is understood to be out of contract with Leon MacDonald’s winless side this summer and is believed to be exploring potential options in Europe including a possible return to Prem side Sale Sharks.

One player on their way out of Perpignan is Australian utility-back Jordan Petaia, as the club’s management announced.

Petaia, 25, left the Queensland Reds to pursue an American football career in 2024 through the National Football League's International Player Pathway (IPP) program and had a brief spell with Los Angeles Chargers before being waived in August.

The sought after Melbourne native immediately inked a one-year contract with Perpignan but has only made eight appearances this season. He has been deployed at full-back, outside-centre and on the wing and is yet to score for his French employers.

Petaia, who last represented the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup in their record loss against Wales, is understood to be heading to Japan Rugby League One next season to an unnamed club.

Meanwhile underperforming Yokohama, who are captained by Jesse Kriel, travel to Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s below-par Toyota Verblitz on Saturday in a crucial game at the foot of the table.

Toyota have lost five games in a row and are one place above their opponents in 11th place. Both teams are desperate for a win to avoid a relegation scrap as the half way point of the season approaches.

Fan favourite de Klerk is hopeful of returning to play in the final rounds of the regular season in May.