South African forward Hendre Stassen will reportedly make his return to French Rugby imminently, signing as injury cover for the remainder of the season.

A highly rated player during his youth, Stassen impressed for the Junior Springboks and signed to join the Bulls in 2018. He spent just one year in Pretoria before packing his bags to join Stade Francais.

Stassen’s ban

However, he played just 18 games for the club before his career came to a grinding halt when he tested positive for a banned substance and was subsequently slapped with a four-year ban which he fought throughout his suspension.

In an interview with Midi Olympique in 2022, he maintained his innocence and said that he spent a fortune to plead his case.

“In two years, I have invested more than 300,000 euros in law firms to defend my version of the facts,” he said.

“A lawyer in Paris, another in Switzerland and a last in South Africa will go to the end to prove my innocence.”

South African forward set to return to rugby after four-year doping ban

Ultimately, he made his return to the rugby pitch in Pretoria following the suspension playing for Tuks, University of Pretoria, in their Carlton A League fixture against Centurion last year before signing a deal with the Stormers.

He featured a handful of times during the 2023/24 season for the Stormers but has yet to play this campaign for John Dobson’s team and he has now returned to France according to reports.

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Brive recruit cover

According to France Bleu Limousin, Stassen has signed a deal to join Brive and arrived at the club on Monday. He has been recruited as injury cover for Wales international Ross Moriarty. The British and Irish Lion has been ruled out for the rest of the Top 14 hopefuls’ Pro D2 season.

It’s a timely boost for the side ahead of their top-of-the-table clash against Grenoble this week.

Brive look to have a growing South African influence with reports stating that lock Irné Herbst will join the side from Premiership club Harlequins next season after signing a two-year deal with the team.

This after they signed Springbok Curwin Bosch at the start of the season and have recently extended the contract of prop Marcel van der Merwe.

Further reports state that the club is planning a more aggressive moves in the transfer market as they continue their push to clinch promotion.

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/south-african-forward-returns-to-france-after-four-year-doping-ban-as-top-14-hopefuls-recruit-cover