Soccer

Smith signs up with Toulon for one year

Former Springbok comes out of retirement after agreeing deal with European champions

Juan Smith has joined Toulon for the rest of the season.
Juan Smith has joined Toulon for the rest of the season.
Tue Sept 10 2013 - 16:13

Former South Africa flanker Juan Smith has come out of retirement to sign a one-year contract with European champions Toulon

The 32-year-old, who won 69 international caps, retired from the sport in February after aggravating an Achilles tendon injury that had sidelined him for the previous 18 months.

“It’s great for me to join Toulon and I’m all the more pleased that I have friends in this club,” Smith told the club’s website (www.rctoulon.com).

"I'm ready to play," added the 2007 World Cup winner who will line up alongside fellow countrymen Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Joe Van Niekerk, Michael Claassens and Bryan Habana at Toulon.

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Meanwhile, Argentina head coach Santiago Phelan has made five changes to his team for Saturday's Rugby Championship test against Australia in Perth.

The Pumas, who lost 28-13 to New Zealand last weekend, recalled scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli and centres Felipe Contepomi and Gonzalo Tiesi.

Winger Juan Imhoff was restored to the starting lineup and Agustin Creevy was named at hooker for the 20th test match between the two sides.

Flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe continues as captain in his 54th test.

Argentina: Juan Martin Hernandez; Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Marcos Ayerza, Agustin Creevy, Juan Figallo; Manuel Carizza, Julio Farias Cabello; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Pablo Matera, Juan Manuel Leguizamon. Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Mariano Galarza, Benjamin Macome, Martin Landajo, Santiago Fernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.