The Sharks have reportedly entered the race to sign Springboks superstar Malcolm Marx when his contract expires midway through 2027.
Marx is currently plying his trade in Japan with Kubota Spears, where the front-rower has been since 2021, but two South African teams are looking to bring him back to the Republic after several years away.
The Bulls have been pursuing the 32-year-old over the past couple of months but, according to Rapport, they now face competition from their Durban rivals, who want to strengthen their forward stocks.
They are already laden with Springboks and Marx would add to an already healthy list of current internationals at the franchise.
However, despite containing the likes of Thomas du Toit and Ox Nche in their front-row, they are arguably weakest at hooker.
Springbok’s disciplinary hearing
Bongi Mbonambi, who has earned over 80 Test caps, is the most prominent name among their options, but he is now 35 and is currently awaiting the outcome of a Sharks disciplinary hearing.
He has missed the opening three games of the United Rugby Championship campaign after it was reported he did not abide by head coach JP Pietersen’s rules during a pre-season camp.
As a result, the Durbanites are looking at potentially signing Marx amid the uncertainty over Mbonambi’s future at the franchise.
Pietersen, general manager Dave Williams and head of recruitment Ruan Jacobs have already met to discuss whether they could bring the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year to Durban, a source told Rapport.
Should they manage to tempt Marx, it would obviously give the Sharks a high quality option in the middle of the front-row, but also provide them with a current Springboks starter to guide the very promising Esethu Mnebelele, who ironically moved from the Bulls to Kings Park Stadium in the off-season.
The 20-year-old excelled for South Africa at age-grade level and could well have a long career for the Boks, and having one of the best players in the world to learn from would be hugely beneficial.
Springboks’ double World Cup winner in trouble at the Sharks due to ill-discipline – report
Bulls look to Stormers amid injury issues
It has also been claimed that the Bulls will strengthen their prop stocks by signing Henco van Wyk on a short-term deal from the Stormers.
The Pretoria outfit are without two tightheads due to injury with Mornay Smith and Mawande Mdanda currently sidelined and likely out until December.
Van Wyk is therefore set to join for at least the month of October, according to Rapport, and help ease the burden on the front-row.
The Stormers have plenty of depth at tighthead, especially after signing Wilco Louw from the Bulls, with Neethling Fouche and Zachary Porthen also on their books.
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