French Top 14 giants Toulon have confirmed the signing of South African-born England-capped lock David Ribbans on a three-year contract.
Following in the footsteps of legendary Springbok second-row enforcers Bakkies Botha and Eben Etzebeth, Ribbans has put pen to paper on deal with the four-time French league champions until 2026.
The 27-year-old was last week confirmed by Northampton Saints to be leaving the Premiership club at the end of the 2022-23 season to pursue a playing opportunity in France.
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??????? The international lock joins the @RCTofficiel until 2026 ?
?? Le deuxième-ligne international s’engage avec le @RCTofficiel jusqu’en 2026 ?#ParceQueToulon
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) February 22, 2023
Ribbans made the switch to Saints from Western Province in January 2017, and helped Northampton reach the semi-finals of the Premiership and win the Premiership Rugby Cup. He has played in the black and green jersey 115 times to date, starting 98 matches for Northampton and scoring 17 tries so far.
After several inclusions in England training squads, international honours finally followed for Ribbans last November, when he earned three caps for the Red Roses in the Autumn Internationals against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Toulon have a good history of signing South African forwards, having previously had Botha and Etzebeth on their books.
Botha won three Champions Cup titles and one Top 14 trophy during his time with Toulon between 2011 and 2015, while Etzebeth helped the club progress to the Challenge Cup final last year.
Also, Bok speedster Cheslin Kolbe recently announced that he plans on staying at the French club until his contract ends in 2024, despite reports linking him with a move to Japan at the end of the season.
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