Coenie swaps one Shark tank for another

The Cell C Sharks have added another Springbok to their line-up with the news that tighthead Coenie Oosthuizen will be joining the Durban side.

Oosthuizen, who is 34 and has spent the past few seasons with Sale, including helping them get to the Premiership final this season, will return to his former side to add to his 44 caps in Super Rugby and 11 in the Currie Cup.

This means the Cell C Sharks have replaced outgoing Bok tighthead Thomas du Toit, who will join Bath in the new season with another Springbok in Oosthuizen.

It also means their frontline four props are all Springboks with Ox Nche, Nthuthuko Mchunu and Vincent Koch giving them a stellar prop line-up for the coming season.

Oosthuizen adds his name to the off-season signings of Cheetahs flyhalf Siya Masuku, Pumas midfielder Diego Appollis and prop Ig Prinsloo, who is currently also at the Pumas.

Sale confirmed his departure in a statement and the Manchester side confirmed he would be swapping one Sharks side for another.

Oosthuizen played 94 times for Sale, adding to his 30 test caps and his solitary Rugby World Cup appearance in 2015.

Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Since he arrived in Manchester, Coenie has been a massive part of this team and this club and everyone is going to miss him.

“On the field he’s a fantastic player but off it, he’s been a real leader for us in what is a young squad.”

Other than Du Toit, the Sharks are also losing Springbok flanker Siya Kolisi to France.