Yokohama’s Faf de Klerk returns to South Africa

Yokohama Canon Eagles’ Springboks star Faf de Klerk has returned to South Africa to receive treatment after suffering a serious injury in the round one game against Shizuoka Blue Revs on 14 December.

The 34-year-old double World Cup winner went down just 32 minutes into the new season after attempting a tackle on wing Valynce Te Whare and was replaced 90 seconds later by Kazufumi Yamasuga.

Yokohama announced earlier this week that their injury-hit scrum-half, who has been linked with a return to the Prem at the end of the season, has temporarily withdrawn from the competition for the third season in a row.

RugbyJP can reveal that de Klerk currently remains registered by his club to play this season. He would need to be de-registered if Yokohama elects to bring in a temporary replacement who has Test match experience for a country other than Japan.