25 Jul 2013

France-bound Habana eyes RWC15

4:52 pm on 25 July 2013

Veteran South African winger Bryan Habana says he still hopes to play in the 2015 Rugby World Cup after completing his move to big-spending French Top 14 club Toulon.

The European champions have presented their latest big name signing to the media, ending a courting process that began back in 2008 when president Mourad Boudjellal met Habana's father.

Winning the European Cup last season is not enough for Boudjellal, who envisions dominating French and European rugby for years to come and continues to build a side with that in mind.

However 30-year-old Habana acknowledged one attraction for his move to Toulon was that it did not rule him out of also playing for South Africa - unlike the case for New Zealanders and Australians.

Habana will be in good company with the likes of fellow Springboks Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Joe Van Niekerk also on Toulon's books, alongside England legend Jonny Wilkinson, Australian Matt Giteau and Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni.