The Sharks have officially confirmed that Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen will be returning to Kings Park from English side Harlequins next season.
Esterhuizen’s return to the Sharks, where he started his professional career in 2013, was confirmed in a social media post on Thursday afternoon.
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Esterhuizen has been plying his trade at Premiership side Harlequins, who announced that he will be leaving the English club at the end of the 2023-24 season to return to South Africa “for family reasons”.
The 29-year-old was contracted to Harlequins until June 2025 – with his transfer fee reported to be a potential stumbling block in any attempt to sign him – but the club has agreed to release him early to allow his return to South Africa later this year.
Esterhuizen played 81 Super Rugby games for the Sharks in his first stint in Durban, before taking up a move to Twickenham Stoop in 2020. During his time in London, he pivotal role in the spectacular run to the Premiership title in 2020-21. He scored 24 tries across four seasons and was voted the RPA Players’ Player of the Year in 2022, alongside the Harlequins Players’ Player of the Year in 2022 and DHL Fans Player of the Season in 2022-23.
This continues a busy week of recruitment for the Sharks, with Springbok forwards Trevor Nyakane (tighthead prop) and Jason Jenkins (lock) also confirmed as new signings.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Bok ‘Giant’ seals Sharks return appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
