Sharks sign Nyakane and Esterhuizen in sensational double deal

The Sharks have pulled off a sensational double deal to take World Cup winners centre Andre Esterhuizen and prop Trevor Nyakane to Durban from the start of next season.

RugbyPass understands that agreements are in place with inside centre Esterhuizen and tighthead prop Nyakane, who can also operate at loosehead, both members of the Springboks World Cup to join The Sharks.

The Sharks have seen off the Stormers and paid what is believed to be a substantial transfer fee to land Esterhuizen, who was due to be under contract at the Twickenham Stoop for another season.

They turned to Esterhuizen to replace Janse van Rensburg, who has left the club for a short-term deal with Japanese club Canon Eagles before a summer move to Top 14 outfit Bordeaux.

The Sharks first choice, Jan Serfontein, who also had an offer from the Bulls, decided to stay with Montpellier, leaving them scrambling around, but Esterhuizen, who was Quins highest paid player, wouldn’t have been cheap.

The Premiership high flyers were demanding a £500,000 (R12 million) transfer fee, which they were hoping to knock down during a lot of toing and froing over the last week, with wages likely to be equally as high.

Meanwhile, Nyakane was attracting interest from his former club, the Bulls after being told that he won’t be offered another contract by his current employers Racing 92.

Nyakane, who is 35 in May, has spent the last three years in Paris, and a formal announcement is expected before the end of the month.