Rugby Transfers: Springbok latest star to depart PREM side, Welsh international tug-of-war comes to an end and Scotland ace set for shock Glasgow exit
Dan du Preez and Jack Dempsey feature in our latest round up of rugby transfers
Springbok forward Dan du Preez will leave Sale at the end of the season but the Sharks could see Christ Tshiunza come in, while Jack Dempsey is nearing the exit door at the Glasgow Warriors.
Here is the latest round-up of rugby transfers and contract renewals from across the globe.
Dan du Preez to leave Sale Sharks
Six-capped Springbok Dan du Preez will leave Sale Sharks at the end of the season. The 30-year-old forward arrived in Manchester in 2019 and has since made 121 appearances for the club.
He will now follow his brother Rob du Preez out of the door at the CorpAcq this season, with the back headed to Bayonne in the Top 14. This also comes a year after Dan’s twin brother Jean-Luc du Preez also left for Brordeaux.
Commenting on his exit from Sale, Dan du Preez said: “I’ve loved my time at Sale. The past six and a half years have been a privilege. I’ve made some incredible memories on and off the pitch, and made lifelong friends along the way in the players and coaches.
“This club has meant so much to me, and I’ve grown not just as a player but, more importantly, as a person.
“My family and I have made Manchester our home, our boys were born here and we’ve had the joy of watching them grow up here. I’ve been lucky enough to share this experience with my brothers and their families, making memories I’ll never forget.
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“To Si, Michelle, Ged and Soraya, thank you for making it possible for me to join this great club. Your support, love and dedication to Sale is unmatched and the club is very fortunate to have owners who care as much as you do.
“To the fans, thank you for your incredible support, loyalty and your energy on match days. You’ve made this journey one that will always stick with me.”
Also commenting, Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson added: “Dan has been a fantastic servant to the club and I’ve absolutely loved working with him.
“I know I speak for everyone at Sale Sharks when I say that we’re gutted he’s leaving and we’re really going to miss him on and off the pitch. I wish him all the very best for the future.”
At the time of writing, his future destination is yet to be confirmed, but he has been linked with a switch to PREM rivals Bath. A move to the Rec would make sense for the West Country side, as they have just seen current number eight Alfie Barbeary sign for Saracens from the start of next season.
Christ Tshiunza tug-of-war over
The blow for Sale of losing du Preez seems to be instantly softened, though, with RugbyPass reporting that they have won the tug-of-war to sign Exeter Chiefs forward and Wales international Christ Tshiunza.
Tshiunza, who returned to the field for the first time since the opening day of the PREM season this weekend in Exeter’s PREM Cup final defeat to Leicester Tigers, had previously attracted the interest of both Cardiff and Ospreys ahead of next season, but it seems he is set to become the latest Chief to swap Devon for Manchester at the end of the season.
The towering back-five made his Exeter debut in the 2021/22 season, the same year he also made his Test debut for Wales. To date, he has notched 57 appearances for the Devonians and won 15 caps for Wales. He is, however, out of contract at the end of the year.
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His impending move to Sale would give them a further recruitment boost, joining Leicester prop and fellow Welsh international Nicky Smith and England international Joe Marchant in heading to the CorpAcq from next season.
Jack Dempsey nears Japan switch
Scotland back-rower Jack Dempsey is on the verge of making a shock exit from Glasgow, with BBC Sport reporting he is set to head to Japan at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old, who has also represented the Wallabies on 14 occasions, joined the Warriors in 2021 and has notched 63 appearances in the years since. He also helped the Scottosh capital side to win the URC title in 2024, starting in their famous victory over the Bulls in the final.
His form for the Scottish side has also seen him drafted into Gregor Townsend’s Test side, with him winning 33 Test caps to date. Within that, he was a star performer in their recent Six Nations campaign, featuring four times as Scotland finished the Championship in third.
However, his impending switch is likely to affect his Test eligibility in a huge blow for Scotland heading towards the 2027 World Cup.
With the Japanese rugby season running from December to May, it could lead to question marks over his availability for both the Nations Championship in November as well as next year’s Six Nations, which in turn could also impact his chances of featuring at the World Cup in Australia.