Munster sights on Boks ace de Villiers

MUNSTER’S back-to-back Heineken Cup dream may be over, but they’re already planning ahead and closing in on Springbok star Jean de Villiers for next season.

The Western Province and Stormers skipper, rated among the world’s leading centres, has been strongly linked with a move to Munster or France.

Munster are confident they can agree a deal with de Villiers, who would replace New Zealand’s Rua Tipoki, but the Springbok is also being lured to France by the prospect of a whopping €500,000 a year by one club.

However, De Villiers made it clear yesterday that any thoughts of a possible career overseas will be put on hold until after the final Test against the Lions in Johannesburg on July 4.

“My contract expires at the end of the year,” the 28-year-old, who currently has 46 South African caps to his name, said. “I have always had an open mind about playing overseas at some stage. I will do that at some point in the future.

“At this stage, my focus is to recover from my groin injury and to be ready for the series against the Lions. I will make a decision about my future after that.”

That groin injury could potentially rule de Villiers out of the opening Test against the Lions in Durban on June 20.

De Villiers is unlikely to be able play again until June 13 when Western Province face Ian McGeechan’s tourists just a week out from the first international of the three-match series.