World Cup winning lock Eben Etzebeth signs fresh terms at Toulon
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World Cup Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has signed a new deal with Top 14 club Toulon. The 28-year-old has extended his stay at the French club by signing a new three-year deal with the club that will see him remain at the club until June 2023.
Etzebeth joined the club from the Stormers after helping the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory in Japan and was an instant hit scoring a try just 4 minutes into his debut for the side.
Eben Etzebeth scored his first try for Toulon this weekend 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CiWpykHNBQ
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) December 23, 2019
The club have also announced that Patrico Collazo has extended his contract as the side's Director of Rugby until 2025. Collazo joined the club in 2018 after a successful 8 years at La Rochelle where he helped the side up the ranks to TOP14 and Champions Cup qualification.
Etzebeth’s rise as a second row force has been meteoric, with him being tipped to rival the legacy of the great Bakkies Botha. Having starred at the U20 World Cup for the Baby Boks in 2011 Etzebeth was highly impressive in his first Super Rugby season for the Stormers and went on to make his Springbok debut against England in June 2012. At 2.03 metres tall and 123 kg the burly lock does not stand back for anyone and has all the tools to become a Bok legend.
He has since made the Springbok number 4 jersey his own with some quite outstanding performances over the last few seasons. In 2015 he came back from injury to play for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup. After a short stint in Japan he rejoined the Stormers in 2016. Etzebeth became the youngest South African player to earn his 50th test cap in the Rugby Championship again Australia 2016.
In August 2017, Etzebeth was named as Springboks captain in the injury absence of Warren Whiteley. The aggressive second rower made his long-awaited return from injury during the 2018 Rugby Championship after being included in the squad ahead of the competition
To date, Etzebeth has 84 test caps to his name, 80 of which coming in the starting XV and has featured five times for Toulon scoring twice.