Sale and Stormers circle two Springbok No.9s
TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have reignited their interest in re-signing Springbok scrumhalf Embrose Papier, who has entered the final year of his contract with last season’s URC finalists the Bulls, writes RugbyPass’ Neil Fissler.
Earlier this year, the Sharks offered to pay a fee for Papier, 29, who won the last of his Springbok caps against Scotland this July and made 11 appearances for Sale after joining on a short-term contract in September 2019.
Alex Sanderson, who lost Raffi Quirke to Newcastle Red Bulls this summer, has brought in All Backs XV ace Xavier Roe from the Chiefs, but South African sources have told Fissler Confidential he is still very much interested in Papier.
Furthermore, the Stormers could throw a career lifeline to Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies by offering a much-needed way out of Bayonne, where he has another year to run on his two-year contract.
Bayonne’s director of rugby, Laurent Travers, is prepared to let Jantjies, 30, leave after this summer, as soon as he became part of Rassie Erasmus’ plans for the Nations Championship.
It is understood that Stormers coach John Dobson could offer him the chance to return to Cape Town, where he played almost 100 times before moving to France.
This is following serious injuries sustained by Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage against the All Blacks.
