Van Niekerk, whose deal to switch to Franklin's Gardens was cancelled by the club because of doubts over the South African's fitness, was named in Top-14 Toulon's squad announcement today.

The announcement revealed that Van Niekerk would be playing with former All Black Jerry Collins in the back row, but Cathy van Niekerk this afternoon insisted that the proposed move "was only a rumour at this stage".

The player's provincial coach, Eugene Eloff, revealed the No.8 had spoken with him regarding a possible move to France.

"Joe did inform me that, because he was not offered a Springbok contract, he wanted to go play overseas," Eloff told iafra.com.

"So there could well be a measure of truth in that report.

"I don't know if anything has been officially agreed, but I know that Toulon did speak to him."

Eloff said that he did not have any ideas about when Van Niekerk's proposed move would take place, but guessed that the Bok loose forward would probably look to move after his current stint with the Springboks came to an end.

"It would probably be sorted out after the Tri-Nations," said the coach.