SA Players Abroad: Joe van Niekerk (Toulon)

52 test Springbok Loose Forward, Joe van Niekerk is well known by South African and international supporters. Little is known on South African shores as to how well he has been doing at French Club Toulon!

Van Niekerk is captaining the club but more importantly,  captaining them in this weekends Heineken Cup Quarter Final against fellow French Top 14 competitors Perpignan. See Fixtures here. He has also led the club to the Semi Final of the Top 14 Championship as well as finalist in the Amlin Challenge, both in the 2009/2010 season
He had a magnificent junior rugby career and captained SA Schools (He was schooled at King Edward VII School.), SA u19 and SA u21. 
Van Niekerk was moved straight into the Springboks squad from the u21's without playing a Currie Cup or SupeRugby game. Joe van Niekerk represented the Lions in Super 12 and the Stormers in Super 14 before attempting a move to Northampton Saints (contract was terminated before arriving at the Club) and finally settling in Toulon.