Five South African stars linked with European moves

There has been a sudden increase in interest from overseas clubs in South African players due to a 21-day window that was agreed upon by the SA Rugby Industry, MyPlayers and the South African Rugby Employers' Organisation (SAREO) in which all professional players were given three weeks - until 14 May - to get out of their current contracts with their respective unions and sign on the dotted line with those big-spending UK, France and Japanese clubs in particular.

This has lead to numerous rumours of South Africans heading abroad, one of the biggest reported deals seeing Montpellier offering Pieter-Steph du Toit the opportunity to become the highest paid player in rugby.

However, the reports haven't stopped there with South African news outlet Sport24 linking South African Rugby World Cup heroes and Sharks team-mates, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am with moves abroad.

The pair linked up in the final against England to set up the first South African try in a Rugby World Cup final.

A historic moment. @Springboks first Rugby World Cup Final try and what a score it was.

Mapimpi 🔁 AM#RWC2019 #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/6j2TqlDn1q

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 4, 2019

Mapimpi, 29, has received an offer from a Japanese club according to the report with the report continuing to say that the club has given Mapimpi until the close of business on Friday to make a decision.