Reports from France suggest that Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard will not be offered an extension on his contract with Montpellier after it expires next year.

Pollard’s game time with the French giants has been limited by a combination of Test-rugby commitments and a long-term knee injury he suffered in his first season with the club in September 2020.

Since joining Montpellier from the Bulls after the 2019 World Cup on a contract reported to make him one of the game’s highest-paid players, Pollard has made just 16 appearances. A handful of those came after he recovered from his knee injury in May this year, including an appearance off the bench in the team’s 2020-21 European Challenge Cup final win.

However, according to a report by RMC Sport, Pollard will not be retained by Montpellier when his contract expires at the end of the current Top 14 season.

Pollard has missed the start of the 2021-22 season after he was selected in the Springbok squads for the Lions series and Rugby Championship and could only return to play for his club in December.

Montpellier have already prepared for life without the World Cup winner by signing talented Italian flyhalf Paolo Garbisi from Benetton. The club also has two talented young French flyhalves on their books in Thomas Darmon and Louis Foursans.

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