Lukhanyo Am, the Springbok centre and captain of the Sharks, has committed to the KwaZulu-Natal team until 2025.
This followed rumours that he was headed off to ply his trade in Japan. Although he has now committed to the Sharks, he will be heading off for a two-month stint with a Japanese club, the Kobe Steelers.
Am is widely considered one of the best centres in world rugby at the moment, and has been with the Sharks since 2016. He played a key role in South Africa’s successful campaign to win the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.
In a statement Eduard Coetzee, the CEO of the Sharks, said: ‘We are thrilled that Lukhanyo has thrown his full support behind what we at the Sharks are trying to achieve and he has committed his substantial abilities and player excellence to the Sharks for the next three years. His contribution to the Sharks has been phenomenal and we look forward with eager anticipation to the next few years with him as an integral member of the team.’