URC: SA Shield - who's in and out?

SPOTLIGHT: In the final part of our URC squad transfers breakdown, @rugby365com reporter Angus Opperman takes a look at the player movements of the South African teams.

Bulls: (season standing: second, finish: losing finalist)

It’s been a watershed season for the Bulls who was in it until the end to contest for top spot on the URC table.

The Pretoria based side played a great attacking yet power based game that’s soft on the eye.

They managed to break the stranglehold of the Stormers’ unbeaten streak over fellow South African teams at Loftus and knocked the fancied Leinster out of the semifinal for the second time in three years before coming agonisingly close to clinch their first URC championship.

Below are the players who have come and gone for the Bulls ahead of the upcoming season.

Players out: Chris Smith (Oyonnax), WJ Steenkamp (Lions), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Sagamihara DynaBoars – sabbatical)

Players in: 

Cobus Wiese: The versatile forward provides the Bulls with great versatility with his ability to cover the lock and loose forward positions.

The former Junior Springbok made his senior debut with the Stormers and Western Province in 2017, having scored a decisive try in the 2017 Currie Cup Final for the blue and white hoops to clinch the title against the Sharks in Durban.

In 2020 Wiese swopped the Cape for Manchester where he played 51 times for Sale Sharks alongside Springboks Faf de Klerk and Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Wiese returned to South Africa to join the Bulls and had already made an impact in the 2024 Currie Cup and will look to build on that momentum in the URC.

Boeta Chamberlain: The flyhalf played all his senior career for the Sharks before making the move to Pretoria, where he’s mainly been utilised as a fullback.

Chamberlain provides a great attacking edge and has a sniff for a good drop goal as we have seen during his time with the Sharks.

Despite recently missing a kick to take the Bulls to the Currie Cup Final, Chamberlain will be a valuable addition in a Bulls team full of superstars.

Aphiwe Dyantyi: The former World Rugby breakthrough player of the year (2019) has had a turbulence personal time following his meteoric rise on the big stage.

Months before World Cup 2019, the shocking news broke that Dyantyi has tested positive for an illegal sport enhancing substance.

Despite claiming his innocence, Dyantyi recieved a four year ban before the Sharks gave him a lifeline in 2023.

He subsequently signed for the Bulls where he seems to get back to his old form during the Currie Cup and he’s most likely to fill the temporary void left by Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Nama Xaba: A URC winner with the Stormers, Xaba came through the Western Province ranks but only managed to represent the Cape side on 20 occasions due to numerous injury setbacks.

After months of speculation, Xaba had agreed to sign with the Bulls in 2024 and had a few standout performances during the Currie Cup.

A menace on the ground much like his teammate Marcell Coetzee, Xaba brings excellent breakdown skills to his new side as well as great skill in open play.

Alulutho Tshakweni: The former Junior Springbok prop has had stints with the Southern Kings and more recently the Cheetahs before making the move to Pretoria.

He will provide great depth in the front-row with the likes of Springboks Steenekamp and Louw in the ranks as well.

Sintu Manjezi: A towering figure with brute strength and great ball-in-hand skills – Manjezi returned to Pretoria for his second stint after representing defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors since 2022.

The loose forward who’s also comfortable at lock previously represented the Kings, Griquas and Cheetahs but has found a home at the Bulls.

Lions: (season standing: ninth)

Yet another season of ‘so close but so far’ for the Johannesburg based side who had to win their last round-robin clash against the Stormers in Cape Town in order to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Despite playing against 14 players for the majority of the match following a red card to Stormers wing Angelo Davids – the Lions came up short, but earned a losing bonus-point which kept their hopes alive, but that was quickly extinguished when the Ospreys beat Cardiff later that day.

With the side’s Currie Cup in the Final at home this coming Saturday, they will hope that form will translate into the URC season.

Players out: Jordan Hendrikse (Sharks), Hanru Sirgel (Grenoble), Emmanuel Tshituka (Sharks), Willem Alberts (retired), Tyler Bocks (Ealing Trailfinders), Johan Mulder (Cardiff), Ruan Dreyer (Sharks).

Players in:

Tapiwa Mafura: Having already made great strides for his new side during the Currie Cup, most notably against his former team, the Cheetahs in the semifinal – Mafura brings a great attacking edge and have the opportunity to play alongside the likes of Springbok Edwill van der Merwe.

He’s also a Zimbabwe international, having represented his country on two occasions.

Franco Marais: The former Shark returns from Japan where he represnted the Red Hurricanes Osaka side.

He also had a 40-cap stint with Gloucester between 2018 and 2020, bringing a wealth of experience to the Lions.

Siba Qoma: The former Cheetah loose forward made the move to Johannesburg and has played five Currie Cup matches for his new side to date.

With the loss of Hanru Sirgel and Willem Alberts, Qoma will ease their departures with his ability to play tight and loose.

Juan Schoeman: Brother of Scotland international Pierre Schoeman, Juan had stints with the Bulls, Sharks and Southern Kings before linking up with Bath in 2020.

His signing will help bolster the Lions front row stocks with the void left by Sti Sithole last season who joined the Stormers.

WJ Steenkamp: The loose forward jumps ship across the Jukskei river from the Bulls.

He will hope to get more game time in Johannesburg and make a significant impact following the losses of Emmanuel Tshituka and Hanru Sirgel.

Sharks: (season standing: 14th)

It’s been a horror season for the Sharks in the 2023/4 URC season as they ended in 14th position, despite having a host of Springboks on their books.

They managed to find a silver lining as the only South African side to clinch silverware when they clinched the EPCR Challenge Cup for the first time.

They will, however want to avoid another disastrous URC season and they have the players to ensure they make it to the knockout stages come the end of the season.

They have qualified for this weekend’s Currie Cup Final against the Lions in Johannesburg following a dramatic clash that ended in a 40-all draw against the Bulls – advancing to the Final on their superior try scoring tally in the match.

Players out: Le Roux Roets (Sale Sharks), Werner Kok (Ulster), Boeta Chamberlain (Bulls), Curwin Bosch (Brive), Lionel Cronjé (Retiring after Currie Cup Final), Nevaldo Fleurs, Murray Koster, Zee Mkhabela, Kerron van Vuuren (all released), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Bulls), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Montauban), Coenie Oosthuizen (retired), Anthony Volmink (Cognac).

Players in:

Jordan Hendrikse: The Springbok flyhalf joined the Sharks after the 2023/24 URC season from the Lions and will have the opportunity to play alongside brother and fellow Springbok Jaden Hendrikse.

Hendrikse has already represented the Sharks in the 2024 Currie Cup and will most likely take part in the Final against his old side.

André Esterhuizen: The World Cup winning Springbok centre made the move back to Durban following a 87-cap stint with Harlequins where he was a fan favourite.

Esterhuizen will make a big impact with his hard running style and solid defensive workrate.

The Sharks could field the best centre combination should he be partnered by fellow Springbok Lukhanyo Am which is an exciting prospect.

Emmanuel Tshituka: The loose forward is also set for a reunion with brother Vincent who he played with at the Lions.

The exciting yet hard-hitting loose forward forms part of an impressive depth pool of Sharks loose forwards which includes fellow returnee Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.

Jason Jenkins: The former Bulls lock had Irish stints with Munster and Leinster respectively before joining the Sharks.

Jenkins possesses great ball in hand skills but doesn’t shy away from his primary job and is a tough player to bring down with his strong runs and carries that’s earned him a Springbok cap in Rassie Erasmus’s first match in charge back in 2018 against Wales in Washington.

Trevor Nyakane: The double World Cup winner has been around the block with stints starting with the Cheetahs in 2012 to 2014 before linking up with the Bulls and subsequently Racing 92 before joining the Sharks in 2024.

Nyakane already made a massive contribution in the black and white jersey, having scored the match equalizer against the Bulls in the Currie Cup semifinal this past Saturday that was enough to see the visitors through to the Final.

His experience will ease the blow of the retired Coenie Oosthuizen and will add great value to the Sharks, playing alongside fellow Springboks Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche.

Ruan Dreyer: The former Springbok prop has spent all of his South African career with the Lions before linking up with the Sharks.

He also had a stint with Gloucester before returning to the Lions and will provide great experience to an already impressive Sharks pack.

Siya Kolisi: The biggest signing of them all – the double World Cup winning captain rejoins the Sharks following a brief stint with Racing 92.

His experience and leadership speaks for itself and he will add immense value on and off the pitch to the Sharks.

Stormers: (season standing: fifth, ending: losing quarterfinalist)

After hosting the first two URC Finals, the Stormers had an up and down season, with a horror tour losing four games on the trot.

They also had a first ever loss to Ospreys at home which cost them a top four spot on the URC table and will hope to reach the heights of their first two seasons in the competition.

Players out: Nama Xaba (Bulls), Tristian Leyds (Blitzboks), Kwenzo Blose (Exeter Chiefs), Leon Lyons (Griquas), Lee Marvin Mazibuko (released), Junior Pokomela, Chad Solomon (both released), Mnombo Zwelendaba (Griquas), Hacjivah Dayimani (Racing 92), Simon Muller (Blue Revs), Godlen Masimla (Pumas).

Players in:

Steven Kitshoff: The double World Champion returns to Cape Town following a season with Ulster.

Kitshoff, who lead the Stormers to URC glory in 2022 is a valuable acquisition although he is possibly ruled out until the end of the season following a neck injury sustained in a Currie Cup match for Western Province.

JD Schickerling: The former schoolboy prodigy returns to the Cape following a stint with the Steelers in Japan.

Schickerling will add great value to the Stormers’ lock stocks alongside the likes of Salmaan Moerat, Ruben van Heerden, Gary Porter and Adré Smith.

Schickerling’s return is a welcoming one after the Stormers struggled with locks last season, especially with the loss of Marvin Orie last season.

Dave Ewers: Ewers joins the Stormers on a short-term loan deal to boost their loose forward stocks following the injuries to Evan Roos and Deon Fourie.

He’s a Premiership winner with Exeter Chiefs and has made his debut in the Currie Cup for Western Province this season.

Thomas Bursey: The scrumhalf is returning to the Cape following a loan spell with Griquas.

He had a great Currie Cup and SA Cup season in Kimberley and will add competition to the No.9 jersey alongside Imad Khan, Stefan Ungerer, Paul de Wet and Springbok Herschel Jantjies.

Sako Makata: The former Blitzbok spent his youth career with Western Province before linking up with the national sevens side in 2019.

He is a hard running powerful wing with great ball skills and speed which makes him a hard player to bring down and has been one of the best players in the 2024 Currie Cup.

He is also a gold medal winner with the Blitzboks at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where South Africa defeated Fiji in the Final.

Sibusiso Sangweni: The former SA U20 loose forward represented the Lions for three seasons before quietly making the move to the Cape in 2024 – where he feathered in a couple of Currie Cup matches off the bench.

The loose forward will add great depth to the Stormers’ depleted stocks who are currently missing two Springboks in Evan Roos and Deon Fourie who’s sidelined with injury.