Brenden Nel - SuperSport
Cape Town - French club Stade Francais may be staring down the barrel of financial problems, but it hasn’t stopped them from trying to poach two top South African locks for the coming European season.
The flamboyant French club has already concluded a deal with Western Province and Stormers lock Anton van Zyl and will this week try and seal the deal with Sharks second rower Gerhard Mostert.
Van Zyl’s agent Hilton Houghton confirmed that Van Zyl had put pen to paper, and would move overseas for the start of the next European season, ending speculation that he was due to move to the Lions when his contract expires at the end of October.
The Lions had made him a substantial offer, but it couldn’t match the Euros on offer in France, prompting Van Zyl to decide on the European option for his future.
The move surrounding Mostert is more complicated. With Steven Sykes heading to Ireland, it is doubtful the Sharks will want to release him and given his form in recent weeks, he has moved into position for the starting spot for the next few seasons at the Durban side.
Mostert is tipped as a future Springbok and the Rustenburg-bred lock still has to decide whether or not to accept the big offer made to him by the club.
Mostert’s agent James Adams confirmed that he had received an offer, but not put pen to paper just yet.
Cape Town - French club Stade Francais may be staring down the barrel of financial problems, but it hasn’t stopped them from trying to poach two top South African locks for the coming European season.
The flamboyant French club has already concluded a deal with Western Province and Stormers lock Anton van Zyl and will this week try and seal the deal with Sharks second rower Gerhard Mostert.
Van Zyl’s agent Hilton Houghton confirmed that Van Zyl had put pen to paper, and would move overseas for the start of the next European season, ending speculation that he was due to move to the Lions when his contract expires at the end of October.
The Lions had made him a substantial offer, but it couldn’t match the Euros on offer in France, prompting Van Zyl to decide on the European option for his future.
The move surrounding Mostert is more complicated. With Steven Sykes heading to Ireland, it is doubtful the Sharks will want to release him and given his form in recent weeks, he has moved into position for the starting spot for the next few seasons at the Durban side.
Mostert is tipped as a future Springbok and the Rustenburg-bred lock still has to decide whether or not to accept the big offer made to him by the club.
Mostert’s agent James Adams confirmed that he had received an offer, but not put pen to paper just yet.