Eben Etzebeth is expected to remain at Western Province until the conclusion of his contract in 2016.

Reports first surfaced over the weekend that Toulon would go in for the Stormers and Springbok lock, and were hoping to sign him following the World Cup in England in 2015. The French-based club are set to lose fellow Springbok lock Bakkies Botha at the end of this season and owner, Mourad Boudjellal, has highlighted the 23-year-old Etzebeth as the perfect replacement.

Such reports have proved wide of the mark, with WP Rugby confirming it has received no such approach from Toulon.

'The report is news to us – Eben is contracted here until the end of 2016,' strategic communications manager Howard Kahn told SARugbymag.co.za.

Etzebeth, a product of the Western Province Rugby Institute, has played 33 times for the Springboks since making his debut in 2012. Having missed the whole of the 2014 Super Rugby season, he is expected to play a key role for the Stormers as well as the Boks in 2015.

Last month it was reported that Bath have made an approach to sign Duane Vermeulen, as European clubs look to take advantage of their financial positions to lure some of the southern hemisphere's best talent across the equator.

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