Handre Pollard could link up with a Springboks teammate in Japan if he leaves Leicester Tigers at the end of the season, according to reports.
Rumours have been swirling around Pollard’s future at Welford Road with his contract running out at the end of the current Premiership season.
New Tigers head coach Michael Chieka is understood to be looking for a number 10 to fill the void that the double World Cup winner would leave if he does depart Leicester with Wales’ star Sam Costelow lined up as a possible target.
Handre Pollard on the move?
Pollard joined the Tigers from Montpellier in 2022 after winning the Top 14 and Challenge Cup with the French outfit and has also enjoyed stints with the Bulls in South Africa and the Red Hurricanes in Japan.
According to the initial report by Rugby Pass, a return to the Japan Rugby League One was the likeliest of destinations for the playmaker but no club was named.
However, according to SportsMail, Pollard would not return to his former Japanese team but is being lined up by Suntory Sungoliath. The report states that big-spenders Suntory “are one of the leading suitors” to secure the 30-year-old’s services.
It’s reported that Pollard took a pay cut to join Leicester Tigers where he earns around £600,000 a season and it’s highly unlikely he will earn less with a move to Japan.
Big names at Suntory
The club which has close ties to Eddie Jones have had the likes of Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie on their payroll in recent seasons and had signed Wales star Gareth Anscombe after the 2023 World Cup but he failed to make an appearance for the side due to injury.
Los Pumas legend Nicolas Sanchez was recruited as an injury replacement instead and now the team are in the market for another star fly-half.
If Pollard does opt to join Suntory, he will join fellow double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe at the team with the Bok speedster signing for the club after his departure from Toulon last year.
Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane is also on the club’s books as is former Wallaby back-rower Sean McMahon.
Suntory has a long history of attracting some of the biggest names in world rugby to the club with Matt Giteau, George Gregan, George Smith, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez, and Schalk Burger all playing for the team previously.
The five-time champions finished third overall in the 2023/24 season losing to the eventual champions, Brave Lupus Tokyo, in the semi-finals.
