The Sharks have confirmed experienced scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl as the replacement for departing Springbok star Grant Williams ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Van Zyl returns to South Africa after a successful spell with English Premiership giants Saracens, where he made more than 100 appearances since joining the club from the Bulls at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign.
Key figure
The 30-year-old established himself as a key figure at Saracens, notably scoring the decisive try in the 2022/23 Premiership final against Sale Sharks at Twickenham, helping secure the league title.
Beyond his performances on the field, Van Zyl also assumed leadership responsibilities, captaining Saracens on several occasions in both the Premiership and the Champions Cup.
He reached the milestone of 100 appearances for the club last season in a fixture against Bath Rugby.
The former Bulls scrumhalf earned six Test caps for the Springboks, all in 2018, and now returns home with valuable overseas experience.
Final appearance
His arrival comes as Williams prepares for a move to Japan, having made his final appearance for the Sharks in Saturday’s clash against Zebre in Durban.
Williams has played 28 Tests for the Springboks.
For the Sharks, Van Zyl’s signing offers proven depth and experience at scrumhalf as they prepare for a new era without Williams.
