Leicester Tigers' Handre Pollard says the inclusion of South African teams in European competitions helped convince the two-time World Cup winner to rejoin Bulls next season.
The 31-year-old fly-half will leave the Premiership club after three years at the end of the season to return to home with the side where he started his career in 2013.
He made his professional debut with the Pretoria-based side when they were part of the Southern Hemisphere's Super Rugby competition.
Pollard moved to Montpellier in France in 2019 before Bulls and other South African sides joined the United Rugby Championship (URC) - made up of Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Italian sides – and were subsequently added to the European Champions and Challenge Cup competitions.
That shift, the lure of once again playing for Bulls and desire to be closer to family are among the reasons behind him impending Tigers exit.
"Just being able to go back home is something I actually didn't think was possible," Pollard told BBC Radio Leicester.
"But how things have changed in the last few years with South African teams playing in the URC and being able to play in the Champions Cup whilst being in South Africa was something I'd never seen in my in my career, but the opportunity is there now."
- South Africa fly-half Pollard to leave Leicester
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In the time Pollard has played abroad he has helped South Africa win two World Cups.
He was with Montpellier when the Springboks won the title in 2019 by beating England in the final, then was called up during the 2023 tournament - after first proving his fitness with Tigers - to help them retain their crown.
Pollard kicked his nation to victory in the decider against New Zealand, scoring every point in their 12-11 win.
But despite his success at international level, he has gone without a trophy with Tigers so far.
He moved to Leicester after their Premiership title success of 2022, and after reaching the Premiership semi-finals in his first season in the East Midlands they finished eighth last term.
But with two months of the season and his Tigers career left, Leicester are well placed to challenge for league and European silverware.
On Saturday they face Glasgow Warriors in the last 16 of the European Champions Cup.
"I've had the most amazing time abroad. I fell in love with Leicester and it's been an unbelievable experience and I'll miss it one day, for sure," Pollard added, when asked about how he might look back at his time with Tigers. ...
