Steyn to leave Racing Metro rugby club

Racing-Metro's Springbok utility back Francois Steyn is to leave the club at the end of the season, the French side said in a statement on Monday. The Paris-based club said on its web site that it understood the player's decision, attributing it in part to pressure from South African rugby bosses to see their key player compete on home soil. The 24-year-old, capped 47 times for South Africa, has spent three seasons with Racing and had "actively participated" in the club's revival, the club added. Steyn scored a 75-metre run-in try in the club's 27-16 win against Castres on Friday. Racing are currently sixth in the French Top 14 league and are vying for a place in the end-of-season play-offs. His departure comes after France forward Sebastien Chabal left Racing under a cloud in February, after failing to agree terms for an extension to his contract and disagreements over the club's playing strategy. Racing are also seeking to keep France international Lionel Nallet at the club.