PICTURE: Stormers say goodbye to homegrown talent

The Stormers have finally bid farewell to former Junior Springbok captain Ernst van Rhyn in a moving social media post.

The 25-year-old forward has signed a three-year contract with Premiership side Sale Sharks.

Van Rhyn will join a number of other South Africans already at the club.

Other South African at the club include flyhalf Robert du Preez, twins Daniel and Jean-Luc du Preez, Coenraad Oosthuizen and Armand van der Merwe.

The move sees Van Rhyn conclude a five-year career at the Cape Town franchise.

Stormers wished Van Rhyn all the best for the future and also thanked him for his service.

Sale Sharks broke the news in April. 

The Premiership club’s Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “He’s a really good player, but more importantly, he’s a really good character.

“He’s captain material and he’s been a leader in every team he’s played in and that’s testament to the kind of person he is.

“He is joining us at a really good point in our growth as a squad, and I think we’re getting him at the same stage in his development.”