24-second Aphiwe Dyantyi message confirms his deal to return to rugby

Banned ex-Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi is officially back in rugby ahead of the upcoming expiry of his four-year ban for doping. The 28-year-old's suspension finishes on August 12 and a deal has been announced by the Sharks to join them in Durban for the new 2023/24 URC season.

The Sharks recently appointed ex-All Blacks assistant John Plumtree as their head coach, with Neil Powell stepping back into his director of rugby role, and they have now bolstered their squad with the intriguing signing of Dyantyi.

Under a club social media message titled: “It’s official, welcome Aphiwe Dyantyi to our Sharks family”, the South African recorded a 24-second audio clip where he thanked the Sharks for giving him his chance.

“More than anything I am just excited to be back, and I just trust that everyone around is as excited as I am to see what I can do,” said Dyantyi. “I only promise to give my best for the jersey.

“I have been now in Durban for quite some time, and I have kind of seen what the Sharks mean to the people. I want to contribute to that, and I have seen the pride that the people have, and I would like to honour that in all that I do and the fans to see that reflected in what I do on the field."

It was in February last year, two and a half years into his ban for testing positive for two anabolic steroids and selective androgen receptor modulator usage, when Dyantyi told his social media followers that he would be targeting a return to rugby when he became free to play again in August 2023.

He wrote at the time: “This year marks three years out of the game (banned). A very challenging three years coupled with tears, rebuilding, love and laughter. A trial and error period in my life but two business projects down the line, I wouldn’t change anything about my life journey. The support has been both heartwarming and humbling. Thank you.”

Capped 13 times by Rassie Erasmus and chosen by World Rugby as their 2018 breakthrough player of the year, the-then Lions winger Dyantyi was expected to challenge for inclusion in the Springboks squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

However, while South Africa went on to win the tournament in the Far East, Dyantyi was unavailable due to his failed doping test with the Lions and he was eventually banned in December 2020 for four years.