The Sharks have landed a huge coup, signing a replacement for Springboks loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, Planet Rugby has learnt.

The Stormers confirmed the signing of Mchunu in March this year, with the Bok front-rower heading to Cape Town to fill the void of Steven Kitshoff, who was forced into retirement by an almost catastrophic neck injury.

Sharks raid Bulls for Mchunu’s replacement

With Mchunu off to the Stormers, the Sharks have been scouring the market for a replacement and now have their man, raiding the Bulls to sign Simphiwe Matanzima.

Planet Rugby has learnt, from a reliable source, that the prop signed a deal with the Sharks last week in what is a major coup for the club ahead of next season as they fill Mchunu’s void with the highly rated front-rower.

The 27-year-old prop has featured just six times for the Bulls this season due to illness, injury and squad depth, notably missing the side’s URC clash against Ulster in October after a virus affected his heart.

He did, however, come off the bench in the Bulls’ most recent wins over Munster and Glasgow Warriors, respectively, replacing Jan-Hendrik Wessells on both occasions while he started the Challenge Cup knockout matches against Bayonne and Edinburgh.

Matanzima is recruited with the view of backing up and pressing Springboks prop Ox Nche, while there are doubts around the future of Trevor Nyakane after the versatile 36-year-old ruptured his Achilles tendon against the Bulls in February, ending his season.

Fellow swing prop Ruan Dreyer is also entering the twilight of his career at the age of 34 and has also missed a chunk of the season through injury.

Matanzima’s signing, therefore, not only adds depth but youth to the position with Dian Bleuler, 25, also returning from his loan spell at Munster.

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More signings to come?

It is the second big signing for the Sharks off the back of securing the services of one-cap Springboks winger Edwill van der Merwe from the Lions, who reportedly rejected offers from Sale Sharks before penning a deal with the Durban-based outfit.

But sources tell Planet Rugby the club is keen on adding more signings before the end of the season, with scrum-half and full-back being positions of concern. This is down to Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams and Aphelele Fassi becoming regular Springboks squad members, meaning that they are on international duty during the season and the Sharks must provide regular rest periods for the trio.

When Fassi was sidelined through injury, the Sharks snapped up Bulls utility back Henry Immelman on loan but are now weighing up their options for a more permanent option.

It’s yet to be seen if the Bulls will attempt to find a successor for Matanzima with Wessels playing loosehead prop more regularly for the side. Alulutho Tshakweni has filled one of the loosehead prop positions on 13 occasions this season across the Champions Cup and URC while Dylan Smith has been used more sparingly.

The Bulls also have powerhouse Bok Gerhard Steenekamp, who has also been injured this season, while Tielman Nieuwoudt has left the side to join the Cheetahs.

The Bulls have made a splash from a player movement point of view, snapping up the services of Handre Pollard from Leicester Tigers with fellow Springboks Jan Serfontein and Nico Janse van Rensburg set to follow along with Stormers scrum-half Paul de Wet.

Planet Rugby reached out to the Bulls for comment, but the club opted not to reply.

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/exclusive-sharks-raid-bulls-to-sign-highly-rated-forward-to-fill-springboks-front-rowers-void