Johan Goosen was upset when a photographer from French sports daily L'Équipe snapped him practising his goal-kicking in Bloemfontein. 

The Springbok back controversially got out of his €500,000 (R7.2-million) per season contract with French club Racing 92, which was set to end in 2020, by 'retiring' from the game last December and accepting a job as a commercial director at a saddle-horse stud farm in Bloemfontein.

There was speculation that the 24-year-old could come out of retirement to play for the Cheetahs in Super Rugby before joining English club Gloucester. However, any team that signs Goosen would have to pay Racing €1-million, and he remains in the rugby wilderness.

L'Équipe tracked down Goosen in Bloemfontein on Thursday, much to his annoyance.

'We found Johan Goosen!' wrote Laurent Campistron. 'Oh, the meeting was brief. Brutal, even. The ex-Racing player did not appreciate our presence much and made us sharply know. Nevertheless, as we have seen, he still exists.'

Photo: L'Équipe