Halstead to go home after next season

MUNSTER centre Trevor Halstead is to return to his native South Africa after next season, having refused a new deal to stay on with the European champions.

Halstead told South African newspaper The Star that although he felt healthy enough to play on, he also felt he was “coming to the end of my career,” adding: “I am 29 and the way I feel now, I’ve probably played enough rugby. I’ll have another year with Munster and that will probably be enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got loads of rugby left in me. I reckon I could play for another six years. But maybe other things are calling me. And I don’t think I’ll regret it when I do finish.”

Halstead scored a crucial try for Munster against Biarritz in the Heineken Cup final and his powerful running and canny offloading were hugely influential in their run to Cardiff. The big centre was thrilled to taste success in a final after the losses he suffered earlier in his career.

“I had a couple of losses in the Currie Cup back in 1999 and then 2001 and also with the Sharks in a Super 12 final. So this success buried those bad memories. I was heading to the stage where I began to wonder if I was going to win anything. As I come towards the end of my career, it’s nice to have won a big final.”

He won six caps for the Springboks between 2001 and 2003, and his form for Munster sparked speculation about a recall to the South Africa colours, but it looks as if the Natal Sharks are the only side which might benefit from his return home.