Sharks beat SA rivals to Bongi Mbonambi successor’s signature but lose Junior Springbok to Bulls
Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi and an inset of Sharks back Hakeem Kunene.
JP Pietersen looks to have landed his first signing as the Sharks’ permanent head coach, beating rival South African teams to a rising star’s services.
However, the Durbanites look set to bid farewell to a promising talent of their own who is reportedly packing his bags for Pretoria.
Sharks sign hooker on Springboks’ radar
Highly rated Junior Springboks hooker Esethu Mnebelele has put pen to paper with a deal to join the Sharks, according to Rapport.
The 20-year-old was set to be called up to the Springboks squad last November before injury denied him the opportunity to link up with Rassie Erasmus’ charges but is expected to be part of the alignment camps in the months.
The front-rower is currently in Georgia with the Junior Boks and is yet to make his debut for the Bulls, who were eager to retain his services but have failed to do so. According to the report, the Bulls were prepared to offer him a five-year contract extension but he has instead opted for a move to Durban.
Erasmus is not the only interested party in the young front-ranker as it is reported that the Stormers were also keen on signing the hooker who is now primed to be Bongi Mbonambi’s successor at the Sharks and Springboks.
35-year-old Mbonambi is currently in talks with the Sharks over his future but Mnebelele’s signing is another addition to the club’s young hooker stocks which includes 22-year-old Bryce Calvert and 21-year-old Ethan Bester, the latter was also invited to a Boks’ alignment camp last year.
Pumas’ loanee Eduan Swart (25) has also impressed during his stint in Durban, while Fez Mbatha (26) has been a staple in the Sharks’ matchday 23s for some time now.
Still, the Sharks have been in the market for another hooker since Dylan Richardson’s departure to Edinburgh at the end of last season and looked to have finally added to their stocks with the swoop for Mnebelele after missing out on Marnus van der Merwe.
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The report adds that the ‘difficult path’ to the Bulls’ number two jersey factored into his decision with Springboks hookers Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Akker van der Merwe and Johan Grobbelaar on the club’s books with Marco van Staden also getting more minutes in the role.
In another boost for the Sharks, tighthead prop Vincent Koch has signed a one-year contract extension to remain in Durban with the option of a second season. The double World Cup winner reportedly attracted interest from PREM Rugby clubs but has opted to remain in Durban instead, with the player and club having the option to end the agreement after the first 12 months.
Bulls sign Junior Bok and Stormers flyer
While the Bulls will be disappointed to be losing Mnebelele, Johann Ackermann has made two sharp signings, according to Rapport.
The first of which is Sharks full-back Hakeem Kunene, who will bolster their stocks at 15 as Willie le Roux’s career draws closer to an end. Le Roux is contracted to the Bulls through to the end of next season, when it is expected that he will hang up his boots. The 35-year-old remains a key cog in the Bulls backline, and Kunene’s arrival next season will allow the former Junior Bok to settle in Pretoria under the guidance of Le Roux.
Kunene’s move comes off the back of both the Sharks and Bulls missing out on the signing of Quan Horn, who turned down the advances of both unions in favour of remaining with the Lions. The Sharks have since announced the signing of Gianni Lombard from the Lions, who will offer the Durban-based side an option at fly-half and full-back.
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With Aphelele Fassi the first-choice number 15 at the Sharks and Lombard arriving next season, Kunene is likely to get more minutes at the Bulls, where he will be contending with Le Roux and Devon Williams for gametime.
Additionally, the report states that the Bulls have landed the signature of Griquas and Stormers flyer Dylan Maart, who will join the side after this year’s Currie Cup campaign with the former. His arrival in Pretoria is certainly a timely one, with Kurt-Lee Arendse set to leave Loftus for a return to Japan.
The 29-year-old has scored five tries in seven appearances while on loan with the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup as part of a development agreement between the Stormers and Griquas.
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