Pumas stalwarts head to Premiership, URC and Bulls

NEWS: The Pumas’ memorable domestic era has come to an end for several of the union’s biggest names after their Currie Cup final defeat to Griquas.

A number of long-serving stalwarts played their final match in a Pumas jersey in Kimberley before embarking on new chapters with high-profile clubs in England, Scotland and South Africa.

Tighthead prop Ruan “Sampie” Swiegers, utility forward JJ Scheepers, back-rower Ruwald van der Merwe and centre Sango Xamlashe have all confirmed their departures from Mbombela.

Swiegers earns Premiership move

Swiegers has been rewarded for his impressive rise with a move to English Premiership side Harlequins, signing a two-year contract.

The 27-year-old captained North West University during two Varsity Cup campaigns before leading the side to the 2023 title. He also helped the Leopards lift the Currie Cup First Division trophy before joining the Pumas ahead of the 2023/24 season.

His stock rose rapidly in Mbombela. Swiegers was part of the Pumas team that won the 2024 SA Cup, earned a call-up to a Springbok Alignment Camp and was later named the union’s Currie Cup Forward of the Year. He also captained the side during this year’s SA Cup campaign.

The powerful tighthead has also gained franchise experience with both the Bulls and Sharks, most recently featuring for the Durban side against Toulouse in this season’s Champions Cup.

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Scheepers joins Sale Sharks

Versatile forward JJ Scheepers will head to England after agreeing a two-year deal with Premiership club Sale Sharks.

Able to play at lock or in the back row, Scheepers has taken one of the more unique routes in South African rugby. After starting his career with the Bulls, he played club rugby in Ireland with Armagh, in Italy with Rugby Perugia, in the United States with San Clemente Rhinos and even in South Korea with OKMAN Rugby Club, where he featured in Netflix’s Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die.

He later returned to South Africa for spells with Eastern Province before establishing himself as a key member of the Pumas squad.

Scheepers is on his way to Alex Sanderson’s Sale squad following the conclusion of the Currie Cup.

Glasgow snap up Van der Merwe

Back-row forward Ruwald van der Merwe is the latest Pumas player to secure a move to the United Rugby Championship after signing a two-year deal with Glasgow Warriors.

The 27-year-old joined the Pumas in 2022 after impressing for the University of the Free State in the Varsity Cup and quickly developed into one of the team’s standout loose forwards.

Van der Merwe was part of the Pumas squad that reached the 2023 Currie Cup final before captaining the side to the 2025 SA Cup title, leading them through an unbeaten 11-match campaign that ended with victory over Griquas in the final.

His final appearance came off the bench in Saturday’s Currie Cup decider against the Peacock Blues.

Xamlashe returns to the Bulls

Powerful centre Sango Xamlashe is heading back to the Bulls after rebuilding his career through Griquas and the Pumas.

Xamlashe captained Tuks to Varsity Cup success and represented the Bulls through the junior ranks, including leading their Under-21 side and Currie Cup team. However, opportunities dried up after Jake White’s arrival and the midfielder chose to revive his career elsewhere.

He joined Griquas, where he spent two successful seasons and helped the Kimberley side win the inaugural SA Cup in 2024, while also enjoying a short loan spell with the Lions.

A move to the Pumas followed in 2025, where he spent two productive seasons and lifted the SA Cup twice.

Ironically, his final match for the Pumas came against his former team at Griqua Park in the Currie Cup final.

Xamlashe captained Griquas in the 2022 Currie Cup final defeat to the Pumas and has since established himself as one of the standout midfielders in domestic rugby.

He has credited his time at South Africa’s smaller unions with developing the resilience and work ethic that prepared him for a return to franchise rugby with the Bulls.