Port Elizabeth based Super Rugby franchise the Southern Kings have announced that No.8 Aidon Davis has signed for French Top 14 Club Toulon.
The Kings have released a statement confirming that Davis and the team’s vice captain Shane Gates will both be leaving South Africa to play abroad after the Super Rugby season.
Southern Kings Chief Operating Officer, Charl Crous confirmed that Gates had signed a two year deal with Japanese side, NTT Communications Shining Arcs, while Davis had signed a deal with french side Toulon for the 2016/17 season.
“We can confirm that both Shane and Aidon will be moving on at the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season,” he said.
Crous said the Southern Kings wished both players, who had both started their professional rugby careers in the Eastern Cape, well as they embarked on a new chapter in their rugby careers.
“Both Shane and Aidon are a testament to the talent that the Eastern Cape has to offer and we wish them everything of the best as they embark on the next chapter of their rugby careers,” he said.
Crous said rumours on social media that CJ Velleman was moving to France were completely without merit.
“CJ has signed a contract with us until the end of the 2017 season and there is no merit in the rumour that he has signed elsewhere,” he said.
Crous also confirmed that Philip du Preez would be moving to France at the end of the Super Rugby season to play for Pro D2 side Mont-de-Marsan.
Crous said while it had also been announced that Schalk Oelofse would also be moving to Mont-de-Marsan, he could not confirm this, as Oelofse was on loan from the SWD Eagles, and as such the contractual negotiations would take place with his home union.
