While most of the focus is currently on the Rugby World Cup in France, the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season gets under way this weekend.
The Sharks are rolling out the heavy hitters for the arrival of Ulster to the Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth is set to play his first club game in South Africa in more than three years when he debuts for the Cell C Sharks this Saturday - they are hosting Glasgow Warriors in the URC in Durban.
Ireland flyhalf Johnny Sexton is to make his first start of the season for Leinster as they welcome the Cell C Sharks to the RDS this Saturday.
Zebre Parma had a late try disallowed as they fell agonisingly short of completing a second-half fightback for the second week running
While the European URC exodus from South Africa may have made all the headlines this week, the saga has opened the opportunity for a local derby that will be close to a full bodied Test match in terms of personnel.
Club teams normally have to wait twelve years for a second crack at the Lions but the Sharks are now set to play them twice in four days.
Exeter had taken on Max Northcote-Green on a short-term cover deal and he now joins Ealing for their end-of-season promotion push.
Super Rugby may have diminished in fan interest in recent years, but that hasn't stopped it churning out talent... check out the RugbyPass Super Rugby Under-23 squads.