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Sharks sign Nyakane and Esterhuizen in sensational double deal

18 Feb 2024

Racing92's South African prop Trevor Nyakane looks on prior to the French Top14 rugby union match between Aviron Bayonnais (Bayonne) and Racing 92 at Stade Jean Dauger in Bayonne, southwestern France on December 30, 2023. (Photo by GAIZKA IROZ / AFP) (Photo by GAIZKA IROZ/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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Comments

5 Comments

SK 534 days ago

Absolute madness. They shelled out huge money on a 29 year old who isnt that different from van rensburg although he is probably better in every way. No doubt he will give them good go forward but imagine what they could have done with that 12 million. Maybe they could have bought 3 youngsters who are gonna be part of the next gen springboks. Just look at the bulls and their wise purchases. Gumede is now a star and Akker van der Merwe and Co have been adding tremendous depth. One player doesnt win titles, its a team effort. Nyakane is 35 and is probably out of the Bok reckoning. What is the point of that signing? If hes gonna go on to coach then great but give the youngsters a chance

CR 533 days ago

Quite right. SA has far too many talented players to fork that out. The Sharks are trying to spend themselves out of a hole. Rather focus on the grassroots, bring players through the ranks. Love Esterhuizen though. Great player.

Grant 534 days ago

Great signings for the Sharks! 🙌

mark 535 days ago

Another big loss for Quins. Seems like the Premiership and the RFU can’t hold onto world class players.

CC 534 days ago

The Quins have lost Wilco Louw, Merchant, Lynagh and Esterhuizen with Care also being rumoured to be leaving.

That's a lot of talent to try to replace

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Comments on RugbyPass

BM 12 minutes ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

Don’t necessarily disagree but I also think JS is playing along with the corporate line around keeping our players in OZ. “If you leave we will favour the locals ahead of you”.

TV rights are already 10% of NRL / AFL so imagine what they would drop to without our best players and what that would do to the game.

267 Go to comments

d 35 minutes ago

Scott Robertson explains 'hugely challenging' five-halfback situation

totally agree, Aaron Smith proved that the only skills needed for a halfback were fast hands (or so the ladies said) we need to worry more about finding a 10 who can kick accurately and maybe transfer those skills to the rest of the side as well. That said Love needs to tidy up his passing before he slots into 10 at AB level. I’m not totally convinced we have better than Jordan at 14, and Love did fine at fb so put him there for now.

16 Go to comments

PM 38 minutes ago

Tour fortunes of English Lions blur selection picture for Borthwick

Therefore, expect;

1. Genge

2, Cowan Dickie

3. Stuart

4. Itoje

5. Martin

6. Ollie Chessum

7. Tom Curry

8. Tom Willis

9. Mitchell

10. F Smith

11. Freeman

12. Atkinson

13. Slade (until Lawrence returns)

14. Feyi-Waboso

15. Furbank

16. Baxter

17. George

18. Heyes

19. CC-S

20. Earl

21. JvP

22. M Smith

23 O Farrell/E Daly (it’s either or)

Ultimately, Borthwick has to make a decision between Farrell/Ford at 10 or Farrell/Slade at 12 (once Lawrence returns). One or two of the experienced heads will need to miss out from Farrell/Ford/Slade/Daly - there isn’t the room for all 4 in a matchday 23.

6 Go to comments

PM 50 minutes ago

Tour fortunes of English Lions blur selection picture for Borthwick

There is next to no chance of Lawrence being fit for the Autumn Internationals and it’s touch and go if he will be back for the Six Nations (which will be 12 months out).

6 Go to comments

CO 51 minutes ago

Scott Robertson explains 'hugely challenging' five-halfback situation

Kirifis a little guy, only five eleven and replaced a guy who's six foot four in Dalton or Blackadder at six foot three. Lakai is a little larger at six foot one and was in a losing pack against France. The pack definitely is what lost to both France and the Boks. Getting beaten by the benches in the second half. Razor talks about requiring size and then selects short people in the pack. Timoci is another shorty along with Reece, Narawa. I get it if they had amazing x factor but nine is these small guys do. The Fijian Allblacks would struggle to make the Fiji team.

16 Go to comments

NH 54 minutes ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

Someone flagged it the other day, he seems to enter contact in a different body shape than what an ardie or bobby does which allows them to keep their feet better. I don’t think he will ever be quite as effective as bobby in that regard, but if he could get half way there it could make a difference for those brutal, in tight carries where you’re on a hiding to nothing.

267 Go to comments

JWH 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson explains 'hugely challenging' five-halfback situation

Probably one of the better Wallabies side in the last decade too. A shame they can’t bring Skelton, but the pack is still huge with Tupou, Frost, Pollard, Wilson, and Valetini/Hooper

16 Go to comments

JWH 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson explains 'hugely challenging' five-halfback situation

Would be a pretty handy excuse but Ratima is not all bad so can’t really see an argument for losing as having the 4th best halfback in the world playing instead of the best.

16 Go to comments

JWH 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson explains 'hugely challenging' five-halfback situation

Stress fracture for Roigard so nothing too serious, should be back for the Bledisloe games I think, but he could pull a Waisake Naholo and get some voodoo magic to bring him back earlier.

As for Mounga, he isn’t the ‘first-choice’ necessarily even though he probably is the best flyhalf that is eligible to play for NZ. His status in Japan jeopardizes his position as All Blacks 10 since the ABs don’t pick overseas players. Can’t blame him though, 3 million dollars is hard to turn down (but it is something NZR could’ve matched if they weren’t so shortsighted). He got a broken hand playing in the JRLO final, which he won to make it 9 consecutive league titles he has won.

16 Go to comments

JWH 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson explains 'hugely challenging' five-halfback situation

Kirifi is big what are we talking about? Also, ABs pack is NOT what faltered last year against SA

16 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

I cover the other half of Nick's CV and I don't get paid either 😂

267 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

I'm a Sale fan myself and was amazed that they didn't get a go in green.

We used to have a meme:

“You say you're a Sale fan but I bet you can't name four of their players”

“Du Preez”

267 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

That's probably why he got that soft tissue injury!

267 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

You're right of course. I suppose, at the time, the match seemed a cut above the rest of the tour to that point and the Lions were really rattled.

267 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

Yes he tried to bully me with “you don't know about my profession” condescension to distract from his inability to rebut my arguments and it's always better to use calm logic in those circumstances.

If he really believes that people just can't handle views they don't agree with he must be totally deluded.

His management style comes across as very short termist and narrowly focused. I'd hate to work for him and prefer to remain a mere amateur!

Well done by the way for building the community here.

267 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Mick Cleary: 'These blokes have done the jersey proud, with their buy-in and with their relish.'

Jesus PR that’s another great conclusion. I can definitely see it as blocker to bringing through new talent in time for the WC. NZ underwent a lot of change in 2018 following the Lions tour, in part thanks to key injuries. Despite the revenue spending Aaron Cruden (getting frail even at his young age then) and Lima Sopoaga (along with Julien Savea), 2 of the 3 1st5s in the Lions squad, both left before the 2019 WC for example. But when we apply your logic, their delayed departure prevented Richie Mounga and Damien McKenzie (the 15 who got injured and threw a spanner in the works) from brought through in what would possible now be considered the preferred WC preparation. Ditto on the win with a scramble of constant change their all the way through to their WC 3rd/4th playoff.

Theres certainly cause to account for certain circumstances eventuating being influenced by a Lions tour. But as both nations here select from domestic players only, theres also cause to put similar emphasis on the contracting model in general, as sometimes you can hold on too long. Ireland has a similar model, talking to another irishman here he suggests it has lead to selecting based on contracts, money being spent on a player centrally contracted. So I would not so much worry about fatigue (in part because some incomplete analysis I had done on all.rugby shows the Irish contingent have low minutes this year) but continuing to select underperforming and aging players. When in a pure context of building for a WC, one would normally want to move on an develop the future.

23 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

Counterintuitively the forwards that have come through in the 2020s have been better than any era since the Brodie generation. Not sure how we've managed that!

267 Go to comments

Hammer Head 1 hour ago

Australia vs South Africa | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Why is this taking so long😤

2 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

I did like the use of the power runners and what happened off the back of them. Unfortunately Fisher isn't a defensive coach, shame Kiss couldn't join early in that role.