After three seasons with Leicester Tigers, Handré Pollard will return home to South Africa at the end of the current campaign.

The two-time World Cup winner with the Springboks has signed with the Vodacom Bulls, where he spent five seasons after making his professional debut in 2014.

He had a stint at Japanese club NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in 2015 before signing with French side Montpellier in 2019.

Pollard moved to Leicester ahead of the 22/23 season and, in 45 appearances, has scored 395 points for the club.

After initially being overlooked for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Pollard’s form for Tigers earned him a recall to the South African squad during the tournament, which he went on to help lead the Springboks to successive William Webb Ellis trophies.

Speaking about the decision to return home, Pollard said: “It was a hard decision to make, to leave Leicester Tigers, because I love this club and being a part of this group.”

“After a lot of thought, the opportunity to go home to South Africa after six years in Europe and to be able to return to the club where I began my career was one I felt was right for me and my family to take.

“That’s really all there is to say for now because I don’t really want to start talking like this is already over. There is a lot of rugby to be played and a lot of time left for me at Leicester Tigers, which I am focused on finishing successfully.”

Leicester Tigers General Manager Richard Wilks added: “While disappointed that Handré will no longer be a Leicester Tigers player, we understand his reasoning for this decision.”

“He has spent more than half of his playing career away from home and so this chance for him to play back in South Africa, as well as being able to settle with his wife, Marise, and son, Hunter, in a familiar environment is one we appreciate was too good to turn down.

“As he has said, this isn’t a farewell. Handré hasn’t left yet and we know how set on winning silverware as a Tigers player he is, which is what his remaining time at the club is all about.”

Pollard has returned to training alongside his Tigers teammates ahead of the club’s return to action against Munster Rugby on March 14 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, before the Gallagher Premiership recommences the following weekend.