Pieter Morton says he dreams of one day playing in France’s top flight after he accepted a contract with Federale 1 side Trelissac.
The bullocking South African centre has earned a 12-month deal with the team who topped Pool 7 of Federale 2 last season, earning promotion to France’s third tier. He will start pre-season with the club, based near Bordeaux, on August 1.
The move is the latest step in the career of the talented 24-year-old, who spent last season with Abu Dhabi Harlequins having made a sensational switch across the UAE capital from Saracens last July.
“The ultimate aim is to end up in a French Top 14 squad, that is a dream I want to achieve in the next four or five years. That’s something to work to the moment I step off the plane,” said Morton, who played with Pumas and Blue Bulls as a youngster.
“France is known for some of the best club rugby, it’s where players want to end up. It’s been a dream to go to Europe. I think France suits me. It’s physical and aggressive and I think I will like it.
“It’s two leagues below the Top 14. I wanted to go where there’s competition. I want to be out of my depth, to fight for the jersey. I’ve just turned 24, the time is now to make my big break in my career.”
It was an injury-ravaged 2015/16 campaign for Morton, who underwent knee surgery in June and didn’t feature for Quins until January. However, it was obviously enough for Trelissac, with several French clubs said to have been watching Morton prior to his switch from Sarries last summer.
Moving on: Morton.
“The opportunity came at the right time,” added Morton. “It was a big setback to be out of rugby for nine months, it was a tough, emotional time for me, but also motivational. It’s difficult to come back the way you were before. The more I played I started to get the confidence back and the chance has come at the right moment and now I can move forward.”
It is the end of a 22-month stint in the Emirates, during which time he helped Sarries win the 2014/15 West Asia Cup against Doha. He praised the Abu Dhabi duo and has not ruled out a future return to the country he still has hopes of one day representing internationally.
“Both clubs have been amazing to me,” said Morton, who has also played Currie Cup rugby for the Cheetahs.
“We won the West Asia Cup with Sarries and that’s a memory I will cherish. Harlequins is a massive family, a club that looks after each other. Rory Greene and Jeremy Manning, everyone there, supported me through the injury. My 22 months in the UAE was something I’ll never forget.
“To play for the UAE was in my mind, it’s something I want to do. I won’t say I’ll never return to Abu Dhabi. Maybe I’ll get some caps for the UAE before I retire. Maybe I’ll be back one day qualify for the national team. You never know.”
