Alex Sanderson adds South African lock to Sale's recruitment drive

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson has gone shopping in the rugby transfer bargain basement to take Pumas lock JJ Scheepers to Greater Manchester later this summer, as his rebuilding programme shows no sign of letting up.

The Sharks have already announced nine new signings, and Scheepers will be the second South African to arrive ahead of next season, after it was revealed that Sharks tighthead Cebo Dlamini will be joining from Durban.

Scheepers has been a team-mate of Dlamini this season after signing a short-term deal, sitting on the replacements bench against the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship and starting in the 56-19 Champions Cup defeat to Toulouse.

The Stormers are well stocked in the second row with Eben Etzebeth and Marvin Orie leading the way, and the Pumas have already let the cat out of the bag that Gauteng-born Scheepers, 28, is moving to the Gallagher PREM outfit.

Scheepers, who stands at 6 ft 6 in and weighs in at 18 st, played for the Pumas in the 2025 Currie Cup season and has had a well-travelled career, spending time with Italian sides CUS Perugia Rugby and Promotica Centurioni.

He has also been on the books of American side San Clemente Rhinos, who have played in the Rugby Tens Championship, after starting his career with the Bulls.

Scheepers also represented OK Financial Group Okman on Netflix’s rugby competition series Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die and has played in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League for City of Armagh.

He scored a try for City of Armagh in the Bateman Cup semi-final against Lansdowne in Dublin and became the third member of Jimmy Stonehouse’s squad to leave for Europe in the last few weeks.

Glasgow Warriors have snapped up openside Ruwald van der Merwe, while tighthead Sampie Swiegers will be playing for Harlequins after they saw off Leicester Tigers, Sale and Northampton Saints to sign him.