Pollard’s club Montpellier back training in June
South Africa's Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard's French side Montpellier announced on Saturday they will emerge from the coronavirus lockdown and restart training on June 2.
Handre Pollard joined Montpellier after lifting the Webb Ellis trophy with the Springboks in November. AFP/File/GAIZKA IROZ
Pollard’s outfit follow fellow Springbok Eben Etzebeth’s Toulon who will conduct medical tests on their squad members next Wednesday.
“After more than two months of lockdown, the time has come for the players and coaches to get back to the GGL Stadium,” Pollard’s outfit said.
The new Top 14 campaign is expected to start on September 4 but Pollard’s club team-mates including new arrival in Boks scrum-half Cobus Reinach will return to training in phases before being able to start group sessions in July.
The Top 14 season was declared over in April due to the COVID-19 outbreak but questions remain about if a champion will be decided and which sides will represent the league in next season’s European Champions Cup.
Billionaire-backed Montpellier were in eighth place when last term was brought to an end and could miss out on the top-tier of continental competition.
Last week, club owner Mohed Altrad told newspaper Midi Olympique he was interested in signing World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit despite the forward signing a new deal with the Stormers.
