Springbok 2019 Rugby World Cup heroes and Sharks team-mates, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am are the latest high-profile South African stars linked with moves abroad.
The 29-year-old Mapimpi, who became the first South African to score a try in a World Cup final on November 2 last year, has received an offer from a Japanese club.
Am, meanwhile is understood to have sparked interest from clubs in both England and France. The Sharks are now sweating as they look to hold onto two of their biggest assets.
Of the 33 players who were part of the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad in Japan, just 14 (42%) remain based in the country after the exodus abroad that transpired at the end of 2019.
The sudden spike in interest from overseas clubs in South African players stems from a 21-day window that was agreed upon by the SA Rugby Industry, MyPlayers and the South African Rugby Employers’ Organisation (SAREO) in which all professional players were given three weeks – until 14 May – to get out of their current contracts with their respective unions.
It all forms part of SA Rugby’s attempt at cutting costs across the board in an effort to save up to R1 billion by the end of the year as the economic impact of the coronavirus becomes more severe with each passing week.
In Cape Town, there have been no new developments since reports linked star player Pieter-Steph du Toit to a mega money move to French club Montpellier. Du Toit, 27, was heavily linked with a move to Harlequins late last year but reports emerged that French Top 14 giants Montpellier may be preparing to make the star forward the highest paid player in the game.
According to the Rapport newspaper, the French club have offered Du Toit a three-year deal worth a staggering €100 000 (R2 087 000) per month.
To make matters worse, the clause stipulates that franchises cannot negotiate with their players during this time, so there can be no counteroffering once the players and their agents receive an offer from abroad.
The Sharks’ worries do not stop with Am and Mapimpi, either. Flyhalf Curwin Bosch has sparked interest from English club Bath while prop Thomas du Toit has been linked with French clubs Toulon and Racing Metro. Lock JJ van der Mescht, meanwhile is understood to have been contacted by French club Stade Francais.