Stars need to align for Sharks to sign Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth - Eduard Coetzee

Durban - If a few more stars can align in the Sharks’ galaxy, global superstar Eben Etzebeth will be the latest headline act to join the Durban franchise.

Etzebeth has been granted an early release by Toulon and Sharks CEO Ed Coetzee has confirmed that negotiations are underway with the 30-year-old bruiser.

Etzebeth, who has been capped 97 times for the Springboks, would be a healthy tonic for the Sharks who have been short of a genuine enforcer in their pack for some time.

The Sharks’ pack has been rebuilding nicely in the United Rugby Championship and has rectified their scrumming under Georgian scrum coach Akvsenti Giorgadze, and the addition of the brutal Etzebeth in the second row would take the pack to another level.

They already boast a Springbok front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Thomas du Toit and have Springbok captain Siya Kolisi on the flank.

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