Lewies joined in SA homecoming by 120kg tighthead after 10 years away

Perpignan tighthead prop Nemo Roelofse will join Stephan Lewies in making the move from Europe to the Sharks at the end of the season.

Harlequins announced that former captain Lewies will be returning to South Africa this summer after seven years in London, returning to the club he started his career with, the Sharks.

The Durban outfit, at the same time, announced the signing of Roelofse from the Top 14 outfit, which will bring a decade-long stay in France to an end.

The 30-year-old originally moved to France to join Albi, currently competing in the Nationale, in 2016 from the SWD Eagles in his homeland, but has worked his way through the divisions and across France over the past decade, joining Perpignan from Stade Francais in 2023.

The Sharks already boast a welter of Springbok props and will also welcome the arrival of Thomas du Toit at the end of the season, which will only add to the competition for Roelofse.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Sharks

05:00

17 Jan 26

Clermont

All Stats and Data

The club will wave goodbye to Springboks captain Siya Kolisi at the end of the season, who is set to rejoin the Stormers, while fellow Bok Grant Williams has also been linked with a move abroad.

Before he returns to South Africa, Roelofse has a job on his hands at the Stade Aime Giral, with Perpignan only lifting themselves from the foot of the Top 14 table in the most recent round of action at the beginning of the year, when they defeated reigning champions Toulouse. They still, however, face the prospect of the relegation play-off at the end of the season – against the runner-up of the Pro D2 promotion final – with an 18-point gap currently between them and 12th-place Lyon.

For now, Perpignan host the Lions this Saturday in the Challenge Cup.