Bok centre Am is returning to South Africa

Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am is set to return to the Sharks set-up in the coming weeks when he completes his short stint in Japan.

Am was granted leave to take a two-month sojourn to the Kobe Steelers in Japan, following contract negotiations that will see him stay at the Sharks until 2025 at least.

The two-month stint ensured that Am will be back in time for the URC play-offs, which the Sharks have now made. Siya Kolisi took over the captaincy role in Durban in his absence.

“Lukhanyo will be back, he finishes up in Japan next week and we are looking forward to having him back in the following week,” Sharks coach Sean Everitt told TimesLIVE.

“We haven’t watched any of his games, but I have chatted to him on a weekly basis and he is in a good space and really enjoying the opportunity that he has over there.

“He is playing with international stars in his team over there and obviously being coached by really good coaches. We are looking forward to him coming home and sharing the knowledge that he has gained from there.”

A Rugby World Cup winner and considered by many to be one of the best centres in world rugby, the long-serving member of the Cell C Sharks' squad made his debut for the side in 2016.