Former Sharks centre released by French club

Cape Town - Former Sharks centre Paul Jordaan is set to return to South Africa after being released by his French club La Rochelle.

The 27-year-old joined La Rochelle from the Sharks in 2016.

He initially impressed at the Top 14 club but struggled with injury this past year and found appearances hard to come by. It led to both parties agreeing to an early release from the player's contract, which would have run until 2021.

"La Rochelle and Paul Jordaan have agreed to release the player at the end of the season. The club thanks Paul for his seriousness and professionalism during his three seasons in Yellow and Black, and wishes him well for his return to South Africa," the club said in a statement released on their official website.

It's unclear whether Jordaan will further his career with any South African team.

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What an incredible 3 years it has been. ? Rugby has taken me many places. ? I clearly remember the preseason super rugby games I played in Toulouse & Toulon in my last season at the Sharks, I came home to tell Tash “I will never move to France to play rugby” this was purely based off the freezing cold winters ?? little did I know that same year I would be moving to La Rochelle, France. ? What a journey, a place that helped me grow not only as a player but as a person. I have had extreme lows & incredible highs during the past 3 years both on & off the field. I have made incredible friends, that are now family. Each & everyone of you have impacting my life in some way, for that I am so grateful. The club for giving me the opportunity to live abroad & do what I love. The supporters- you guys are like nothing I have ever experienced. The French have such passion. ? We have traveled & seen places, we got married & had our perfect little Ivy Mae. Our little French baby. We got to experience a new culture & way of life. What an incredible chapter it has been. ? But as they say, when one door closes another door opens. We are excited about our next chapter, about being close to our family again. For now we will be heading back to the farm, a place I have longed for & missed for the past 20 years. ? France you will be missed, Bon Voyage for now. Hopefully back for a holiday one day ??

A post shared by P??? J?????? | K??? | F????ss (@pauljordaan) on May 28, 2019 at 12:05pm PDT