Sharks set to face Sarries
The Sharks will play a warm-up match against English Premiership club Saracens at Allianz Park in London on January 25 next year.
The match between the Premiership leaders and the Currie Cup champions will present a rare opportunity to assess the relative strengths of club rugby in the northern and southern hemisphere.
Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: "Our players will enjoy the challenge presented by a full-strength Sharks team, packed with Springboks like Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Steyn, and it's sure to be a fantastic rugby occasion at Allianz Park."
Sharks CEO and former Saracens player John Smit commented: "It will be a wonderful experience for our players to travel to London and play at Allianz Park. The match is a crucial part of our preparations for the new Super Rugby season and it will also be the first match in charge for our new coach, Jake White."
The match has been approved by SA Rugby, and will be presented for approval by the RFU Board next week.
It will be a busy weekend for the north London club. Saracens will host Newcastle Falcons in an Anglo-Welsh Cup match at Allianz Park the following day, on Sunday 26 January.
McCall added: "It will be all hands to the pump. The Anglo-Welsh Cup is very important to us – we've won both pool matches so far – and we're confident the squad will cope with the twin challenge."
