Leicester Tigers‘ professional rugby player Handre Pollard stated that the inclusion of South African teams in European competitions next year was one of the factors that led to his decision to return to the Bulls at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old South African fly-half will leave the Premiership after three seasons and return to the club where he began his career.
South African, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, and Italian teams can now compete against each other in the United Rugby Championship. Additionally, South African teams have been included in the European Champions and Challenge Cup tournaments.
Handre Pollard wants to return to the Bulls both due to these changes and because he wishes to be closer to his family.
“Being able to go back home was something I never thought possible,” he said.
“But things have changed a lot in the past few years. South African teams playing in the URC and competing in the Champions Cup was an opportunity I had never seen early in my career, but now it is available.”
The South African fly-half has also played for his national team and helped them win the Rugby World Cup twice.
Despite his success on the international stage, he has yet to win a trophy with Leicester.