Jean de Villiers has suggested that he may consider extending his short-term contract at the Leicester Tigers.

De Villiers agreed to a six-month deal with the English Premiership side after ending his international career when he suffered a fractured jaw in last year’s World Cup, but he isn’t quite ready to hang up his boots just yet.

Although the former Bok captain is still waiting for medical clearance to make his debut for Leicester, he is desperately keen to get back onto the pitch.

‘I am mentally preparing myself for retirement from rugby after six months but I am not ruling out playing on,’ he told the Leicester Mercury. ‘I have always said that if I am enjoying my rugby and my body can hold up, I will keep playing because it is a game I love so much.

‘Down the line, I will see where it takes me. If I do decide to stay on, we will have to see whether it is here or not,’ he added. ‘That’s a decision that the club and I will have to sit down and make together if there is an opportunity.’

De Villiers said his family had settled in well since their arrival in Leicester.

‘The community has been fantastic to us and have been over to welcome us. I only have good things to say about Leicestershire at the moment.’

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