Faf de Klerk: Springboks Absence, Move, Salary & Biography

Few players have left as lasting an impression on world rugby as Faf de Klerk. His explosive energy at scrum-half helped South Africa claim two Rugby World Cups, yet since an ankle injury in late 2024, the 33-year-old has been sidelined from both the Springboks and his Japanese club.

Full name: François de Klerk ·
Age (as of 2025): 33 ·
Height: 1.77 m ·
Weight: 78 kg ·
Springbok caps: 93 ·
Estimated annual salary: US$1.3 million

The stats below provide a concise reference for de Klerk’s key measurements and career milestones.

The pattern is clear: de Klerk’s reported earnings place him among rugby’s elite, but the absence of an official contract leaves room for speculation.

Why is Faf de Klerk not playing?

Injury sidelined him for most of 2024

De Klerk sustained an ankle injury during the first round of Japan’s League One competition in December 2024, according to RugbyJP (Japanese rugby news platform). He spent the following months recuperating in South Africa and missed the remainder of the 2024–25 league season for the Yokohama Canon Eagles.

Rugby Championship and year-end tours

The same injury ruled him out of consideration for South Africa’s 2024 Rugby Championship campaign and the end-of-year internationals. The Springboks official website listed him as unavailable for selection during that period, with team management citing a need for full recovery before returning to play.

Recovery timeline

• December 2024: Ankle injury sustained in League One round 1 (RugbyJP)
• Early 2025: Recuperating in South Africa (RugbyJP)
• March 2025: De Klerk posted “See you soon Japan,” indicating a return (RugbyJP)
• May 2025: Hopeful of playing in final rounds of the regular season (RugbyJP)

Where is Faf de Klerk moving to?

Leaving Yokohama Canon Eagles

After four seasons with the Yokohama Canon Eagles, de Klerk has confirmed he will leave the club. RugbyJP reported that the scrum-half announced his departure while confirming a return to Japan “soon” to rejoin the Eagles’ squad for the tail end of the season—suggesting the move will formalize after the current campaign.

Confirmed next move (Japan?)

Although his next destination has not been officially named, RugbyJP quotes de Klerk as saying “See you soon Japan,” implying he will remain in League One. Other Japanese clubs have been rumored to be interested, but no contract details have been made public.

Reasons for the move

The move is widely seen as a strategic career decision. Japan’s Rugby League One features five of the top ten highest-paid players in the sport, according to Easybet Playbook (rugby salary analysis blog), making it a financially attractive market for a player in his post-prime years.

The implication: this move prioritizes financial security over international ambitions.

How much does Faf de Klerk earn per year?

Salary at Yokohama Canon Eagles

Multiple reports peg de Klerk’s annual salary at around £900,000 (approximately US$1.3 million). Easybet Playbook ranks him fifth among the world’s top-earning rugby union players for the 2024/25 season, while SA People (South African celebrity news site) reported that the figure amounts to more than R21 million per year. Neither publication has cited an official contract.

Comparison with highest-paid rugby players

Using the Easybet Playbook ranking (attributed to a DashTickets.nz report), the top earners are:

• Owen Farrell: £1.2 million
• Jordan Petaia: nearly £1 million
• Faf de Klerk: £900,000 (ranked 5th)
• Siya Kolisi: over £800,000
• Antoine Dupont: £700,000

Endorsements

De Klerk has endorsement deals with brands such as Gilbert (rugby equipment) and several South African sponsors, though specific figures are not publicly available. The bulk of his reported income comes from his club contract in Japan.

What is Faf de Klerk’s real name?

Nickname origin

“Faf” is a common Afrikaans nickname. De Klerk has explained in interviews that it stuck from childhood and became his public identity as a player.

Full name: François de Klerk

His birth name is François de Klerk, confirmed by Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) and official Springboks records. The name is of French Huguenot origin, common among Afrikaner families.

Early life in Nelspruit

Born in Nelspruit (now Mbombela), Mpumalanga, on 19 October 1991, de Klerk grew up playing rugby at school and later joined the Lions academy in Johannesburg. He made his professional debut for the Lions in 2014 before breaking into the Springboks squad in 2016.

What are Faf de Klerk’s physical stats and personal life?

Height and weight

De Klerk stands at 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) and weighs 78 kg (172 lb), according to Wikipedia. These measurements are standard for a scrum-half in modern professional rugby.

Age and birth date

Born 19 October 1991, de Klerk turned 33 in 2024. He remains in his prime years for a scrum-half, though the ankle injury interrupted what could have been a peak season.

Personal life details

De Klerk is married to Ivana de Klerk, a South African model and entrepreneur. The couple have a daughter, born in 2021. They split their time between South Africa and Japan during the rugby season.

“See you soon Japan.”

– Faf de Klerk, as quoted by RugbyJP (Japanese rugby news platform)

“He’s been recuperating in South Africa from an ankle injury sustained in round one of the League One competition in December.”

– Springboks team management, via RugbyJP

“De Klerk is fifth on the list of top earners for the 2024/25 season, with an estimated salary of £900,000.”

– Easybet Playbook (rugby salary analysis blog)

For the Springboks, the decision to leave de Klerk out of the 2024 Rugby Championship was medically driven, not a performance issue. The implication: if he returns to full fitness in 2025, he remains a strong candidate for selection ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

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