Rossouw set to return to South Africa
Pieter Rossouw is coming home!
The former Springbok wing will leave English Premiership club London Irish at the end of the month and is expected back in Cape Town early in the new year.
England's foreign player quota restrictions (only two are allowed per team) left Rossouw out in the cold at the Exiles.
"Out of necessity, the club decided in October that Brendan Venter had to come out of semi-retirement," the club said on Thursday. "This meant that himself (Venter) and Naka Drotske filled the foreign players quota in the team. Due to these unexpected circumstances, and no prospect of them changing in the foreseeable future, London Irish and Pieter have decided that he be released from his contract."
London Irish managing director Conor O'Shea expressed his disappointment at the turn of events and said it had been a privilege to have a player of Rossouw's experience at the club.
"It's very unfortunate that things have worked out the way they have through an unforeseen combination of circumstances. The club wishes him and his family all the very best for the future," said O'Shea.
Speaking from his home in London on Thursday, Rossouw was still uncertain about his future plans.
"If (Stormers coach) Gert (Smal) wants me or wants me to play, I will consider it. I played my best rugby at Western Province. I will not play for any other team in South Africa (besides WP or the Stormers) if I decide to play again," said Rossouw. "But at this stage, I just want to take a break and not think about it."
Rossouw had been earmarked for a coaching role at London Irish and his return to the Cape could be an opportunity for WP to utilise his astute rugby brain.
He left South African rugby after finishing the Super 12 as the competition's joint-top tryscorer and his leadership in Province's backline was missed during the Currie Cup.
However, retirement is an option he is also seriously considering. "This is not something I planned. I have thought of just retiring. The whole idea was to finish in South Africa this year," said Rossouw.
"I left South Africa on the back of a very good Super 12 and that is always the way I wanted it. Anyway, I don't know whether I would be in (WP coach) Carel (Du Plessis) or Gert's plans. I know I can still play good rugby and I still want to.
"But the idea was to leave on a good note and to play again might be an anti-climax."
"There is interest from other clubs over here. It would be hard to move to another club and again get to know another coach and other players. So there is a good chance that I would rather come home, but I am keeping my options open," he said.
He was uncertain whether he would consider a future coaching role. "It's a very tough industry. You are never sure of your job and can lose it every Saturday. I must decide whether I want that kind of stress for the rest of my life. These are all things I have to go and think about," he said.
Rossouw's situation is a strong indication that the once-lucrative English market could be reaching saturation point.
Clubs are operating under severe financial constraints and there have been reports that the foreign player quota could be halved from two to one on the field next season.
Top clubs such as Wasps and Saracens are reportedly facing the prospect of massive financial losses. Although Newcastle have been big spenders of late, signing up Mark Andrews, Warren Britz and Mark Mayerhofler, this was chiefly to ward off the threat of relegation.
On Thursday, London Wasps announced that they had released former England under-21 centre Will Wigram from his contract.