Jordaan retires, returns from France
Paul Jordaan has hung up his rugby jersey and has taken on a role on his family's farm in the Western Cape.
SPECTATORS at the third annual Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival were privileged to watch a trio of outstanding players from Grey College 1st XV, Paul Jordaan, Jan Serfontein and Johan Goosen, who all went on to be selected for South Africa, before they joined French sides.
Serfontein and Goosen are currently both still contracted to Montpellier, while Jordaan has called it a day and broke his contract with La Rochelle by mutual agreement, to return and run the family’s Eastern Cape farm.
Current Griquas eighth-man and former Cheetahs captain, Niell Jordaan, was also part of the classy 2010 Grey College team at the festival.
During the dozen Kearsney Easter Rugby Festivals to date, supporters of schoolboy rugby have been treated to watching young players who progressed to regular appearances on South African and international television screens.
Born in Somerset East, Paul Jordaan was part of the EP Kings set up while at school, before he joined the Cheetahs and then the Sharks. He competed in the SA U20 team at the International Rugby Board’s Junior World Champions in 2011, as well as in the 2012 team which won the tournament.
His 1st XV Grey College team mate, Goosen, also played in the 2011 event, and Serfontein was part of the victorious 2012 team.
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The super-quick Jordaan (he clocked 30m in 3.62 seconds when doing athletics training) was known for accelerating through gaps, as well as stealing the ball in tackles. During his time in Durban, the 1.8m 88kg centre helped his team make the Vodacom Super Rugby final and Currie Cup final in 2012.But after five seasons with the Sharks franchise, he decided to move to La Rochelle in 2016 as he sought a fresh start and wanted to push himself out of his comfort zone.
During his first season there, the side topped the French championship standings but fell out in the semi-finals. Jordaan had a productive initial two years in France, but injuries became an issue and it made appearances difficult to come by.
This led to him negotiating an early release from his contract, which would have run until 2021. Jordaan says he was enormously appreciative of the opportunity to live abroad, experience a new culture and a new way of life, while doing what he loves.
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“What a journey it’s been; a place that helped me grow not only as a player but as a person. I have had extreme lows and incredible highs during the past three years, both on and off the field. I have made incredible friends, who are now like family,” he said on his departure from France.
He returned to South Africa with his wife Tash and their infant daughter Ivy Mae, “Our little French baby,” he said. They moved to the family farm near Cradock in the Eastern Cape, “a place I have longed for and have missed.”
A severe five-year drought has impacted their sheep and goat farm.
“We have a couple of Kalahari red goats and we also have a hunting trip business with American clients. I wanted to come back and help,” Jordaan said.”When one door closes, another opens. We are excited about our next chapter, about being close to our family again.”
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