Ex-Springbok Ivan van Zyl moves closer to early Sarries exit

The Sharks are in the final stages of agreeing on a deal with Saracens that will see former Springbok Ivan van Zyl leave North London a year early and move to Durban later this year.

The Sharks want Pretoria-born van Zyl, who started his career with his hometown club the Bulls, to replace Japan-bound Grant Williams, despite him being under contract at Saracens until 2027.

Van Zyl, who has been capped six times by the Springboks, the last coming against Wales in November 2018, spent six years with the Bulls before joining the Gallagher PREM outfit, where he has made 116 appearances.

And he knows that this could be his last chance to impress Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of the World Cup in 2027 and force his way into a squad that is seeking to win a hat-trick of world titles.

Van Zyl, who won the Saracens Players’ Player of the Season Award in 2023, came off the bench in the 2022 Premiership Final defeat at the hands of Leicester Tigers and scored a try in the win over Sale Sharks a year later.

He won’t be the only scrum-half departure at the club this summer, with third choice Gareth Simpson heading to runaway Champ leaders Ealing Trailfinders next season.

Saracens, who have got Wales international and Lions star Tomas Williams arriving from PREM rivals Gloucester in the summer, have been showing an interest in Tom James, who plays for Northampton Saints.

The 32-year-old, who has also played for Bedford Blues and Doncaster Knights, has made 121 appearances for the PREM leaders, but only 46 of them have been starts.

But it is understood that James is another player that Ealing have been taking a close look at, and they could even hijack his move to the former Gallagher PREM and Champions Cup winners, moving him to West London instead.