Rival PREM club enter Dan du Preez transfer tug-of-war

The Sharks could face late heartbreak in their bid to land Sale Sharks No.8 Dan du Preez after Gallagher PREM champions Bath made a last-minute bid to snatch him from under their noses.

Durban-born Du Preez, 30, who stands at 6’5 and weighs 17st 9lb who joined the Sharks after leaving Kearsney College in KwaZulu-Natal, making 54 appearances before linking up with brothers Rob and Jean-Luc in Manchester.

But he has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons, and he has made only four appearances for the club this season, bringing his total to 118 since signing in July 2019.

And he will be the last of the three brothers to leave Sale, with twin Jean-Luc already playing for Bordeaux, where he was linked with a move in 2024, and fly-half Rob, who is joining Top 14 outfit Bayonne next summer.

The Sharks, who are losing Siya Kolisi to the Stormers in July, have been looking for a big-ball carrying to bolster their squad and have been in advanced talks with du Preez, but treble winners Bath have made a late move.

It would be a blow for the Sharks, who have had a revival since new head coach JP Pietersen took over from John Plumtree, beating Saracens and the Bulls.

And they hope to extend that record when the Lions visit Durban on Saturday, which would see them put more daylight between themselves and the bottom of the United Rugby Championship table.

Du Preez made history when he won the first of his six Springbok caps against France in 2017. It was the first time two sons (Jean-Luc) of a Springbok (father Robert won seven caps) had played Test rugby.

But he has been out in the international wilderness since playing against Argentina home and away in the Rugby Championship in August 2021, and a move to Durban would have brought him nearer to Rassie Erasmus.