Rugby Transfers: Springboks winger joins Bulls, Sharks target Lions prop, Stormers to lose hooker
Our latest wrap up of the transfer news.
The latest transfer news centres around the South African teams, with the Bulls set to sign a Springboks winger while the Sharks target a prop, and the Stormers look set to lose a hooker.
The 2024/25 United Rugby Championship season is fast approaching and clubs are looking to do their final bits of business while also adding depth for the Currie Cup.
Aphiwe Dyantyi to join the Bulls
After a largely unsuccessful return to rugby after his drug suspension, Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi is searching for a new club and could return to Gauteng.
However, he could turn out for the team on the other side of the Jukskei River, with the wing having represented the Lions previously.
According to South African newspaper Rapport, Dyantyi has signed a two-year deal with the Bulls and will link up with the team ahead of the Currie Cup.
He will provide much-needed cover for the Bulls with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie likely to be away with the Springboks for the Rugby Championship and November internationals.
Dyantyi played 13 times for the Springboks in 2018, scoring six tries, and was named as World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year in doing so. However, his career came to a halt after being suspended for four years for a banned substance.
Sharks target Lions prop
The Sharks are reportedly looking to sign another Springbok prop ahead of the new season, targeting Lions tighthead Ruan Dreyer.
The Durban-based side are in the market for a prop with doubt surrounding Coenie Oosthuizen’s playing career after he sustained a neck injury during the 2023/24 campaign.
Oosthuizen has had his fair share of neck struggles throughout his career, and with his latest setback possibly forcing him into retirement, the Sharks are making plans for the worst-case scenario, according to the Rapport.
Dreyer earned four Test caps for South Africa in 2017 but has not been recalled to the squad since. The 33-year-old has spent most of his career with the Lions but did join Johan Ackermann at Gloucester, playing for the club between 2018 and 2020.
He would be the second Springbok prop to sign with the Sharks ahead of next season, with Trevor Nyakane joining from Racing 92. The Challenge Cup winners have also signed Jason Jenkins, Jordan Hendrikse and Andre Esterhuizen. The Sharks also signed Emmanuel Tshituka from the Johannesburg outfit.
Kyle Sinckler’s move officially announced
The open secret that England and Bristol Bears prop Kyle Sinckler and fellow international and Northampton Saints forward Lewis Ludlam would join Toulon has been confirmed.
The tighthead prop has signed a three-year deal with Toulon until 2027.
“I am honoured to represent a club as special as the RCT,” the prop told Toulon’s website.
“I want to test myself in the best championship and against the best props every weekend. I look forward to meeting the players, managers and supporters of Mayol and being able to contribute to the future success of Toulon.”
Ludlam has signed for the same length of time for Toulon and is eager to get started with the club.
“I am very excited about joining this prestigious club, with a rich history and made up of very talented players,” the flanker said.
“I grew up watching players like Jonny Wilkinson and the Armitage brothers represent this jersey. I can’t wait to fight for the team, for the club, in front of the Mayol crowd.”
The club look set to add another international forward to their ranks, with Rugby Prime reporting that Italy hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi will join the side from Benetton.
Sale to sign Joseph Dweba
According to the Rapport, the Stormers are set to lose Springboks hooker Joseph Dweba to Premiership club Sale Sharks.
The report states that the hooker is no longer part of SA Rugby’s players of national interest scheme and the Stormers will not be able to cover his current high salary.
With the Cape-based side unable to hold onto his services, Alex Sanderson’s club have moved in to sign the front-rower after bidding Los Pumas legend Agustin Creevy farewell at the end of this season.
As was the case with Hacjivah Dayimani, the Stormers may grant him an early release from his contract without requiring a transfer fee in order to facilitate an easier move.
A source told the paper that the Stormers want to retain his services until the end of his contract in July 2025 at least and that the hooker has not requested a release yet.
Meanwhile, the report adds that Paul de Wet is not in talks with the Bulls but is attracting interest from French clubs.
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