Sharks about to lose a Bok to Bath?
NEWS: The Durban-based Sharks are reportedly in a tug-of-war with Bath over the services of a Springbok.
According to RugbyPass the Sharks could face late heartbreak in their bid to land Sale Sharks No.8 Dan du Preez.
The report claims that Premiership champions Bath made a last-minute bid to snatch him from under their noses.
The news comes just days after it was confirmed that Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will leave the Sharks for the Stormers at the end of the season.
Du Preez, 30, was born and raised in Durban.
After finishing school at Kearsney College in KwaZulu-Natal, Dan du Preez made 54 appearances for the Sharks, before linking up with brothers Rob and Jean-Luc in Manchester.
Having struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons, he has made only four appearances for the club this season, bringing his total to 118 since signing in July 2019.
And he will be the last of the three brothers to leave Sale, with twin Jean-Luc already playing for Bordeaux, where he was linked with a move in 2024, and flyhalf Rob, who is joining Top 14 outfit Bayonne in the off-season.
The Sharks, who are losing Kolisi in July, have been looking for a big-ball carrying to bolster their squad and have been in advanced talks with du Preez, but treble winners Bath have made a late move.
Du Preez made history when he won the first of his six Springbok caps against France in 2017. It was the first time two sons (Jean-Luc) of a Springbok (father Robert won seven caps) had played Test rugby.
But he has been out in the international wilderness since playing against Argentina home and away in the Rugby Championship in August 2021, and a move to Durban would have brought him nearer to Rassie Erasmus.
By Neil Fissler, RugbyPass