Springbok centre tears it up in the Top 14 for a crucial hattrick

Springbok centre Jan Serfontein is one of the forgotten men of South African Rugby over the past several years.

He made the last of his thirty-five appearances in the green and gold back in 2017 while still playing for the Vodacom Bulls.

Following four seasons with the Bulls, the former World Rugby U20 Championship winner signed for Top 14 side Montpellier.

Since joining the French side, Serfontein has gone on to become one of their key players helping the side with a Top 14 title and an EPCR Challenge Cup title along the way.

Still just 31 years old, the hard-running Serfontein remains very much at the peak of his powers and is one of the players dragging a struggling Montpellier side away from the relegation zone.

Linked with a return to the Bulls earlier this season, Serfontein apparently caught the BKT URC side by surprise with his decision to sign an extension with Montpellier.

Serfontein s’offre un triplé et le @MHR_officiel retrouve des couleurs en prévision de sa future confrontation avec le finaliste de #PROD2 pour rester dans l’élite… 😳#TOP14 pic.twitter.com/gsWQZMUlgW

— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) June 4, 2024

Signing on the dotted line for at least one more season, Serfontein reportedly has an option to extend by another season should he choose to.

This would seemingly slam shut any chance of a return home during his prime years which in turn could make a return to the Springbok line-up more challenging.

Despite this contract u-turn, Serfontein remains in exceptional form and was the difference for his side in a crucial 41 – 26 win over Lyon in the latest round of the Top 14.

Scoring three tries in the match, Serfontein ensured that bottom-placed Oyonnax were confirmed as the side that will be automatically relegated to the Pro D2 next season.

Montpellier will now face the Pro D2 play-off runner-up in a promotion/relegation match.