Leicester Tigers look set to lose a club stalwart but gain a rising front-row star, while the Sharks have swooped to ease an injury crisis.<\/b><\/p>\n
We recap the weekend\u2019s transfer news and rumours with several moves involving South Africans, PREM Rugby, the Top 14 and more.<\/p>\n
Hanro Liebenberg to leave Leicester Tigers?<\/p>\n
South African<\/a> back-rower Hanro Liebenberg marked his return from injury for Leicester Tigers<\/a> this weekend, but the PREM Rugby<\/a> club may have to do without his services from next season onwards, according to reports.<\/p>\n Afrikaans publication Rapport <\/a>states that the 30-year-old has signed a deal to re-join the Bulls, following Handre Pollard in switching Welford Road for Loftus Versfeld.<\/p>\n Liebenberg joined the Tigers from the Bulls back in 2019, with a brief stint at Stade Francais in between, and has gone on to become a fan-favourite and crucial cog in the team that won a PREM Rugby title in 2022. He scored a try in the 15-12 victory over Saracens in the final.<\/p>\n The powerful flanker has also captained the side several times during his stint at the club, notching up over 100 caps in the process. His performances for Leicester has prompted the idea that he could potentially represent England, having surpassed the five-year residency threshold; however, he captained the Junior Springboks at a time when the South African U20s team tied a player to a national team.<\/p>\n Planet Rugby understands that the Bulls weren\u2019t the only South African team interested in Liebenberg\u2019s services, but the back-rower was eager to return to Pretoria, where he started his career.<\/p>\n A return to Loftus also puts him squarely back on the Springboks\u2019 radar. While he hasn\u2019t been capped internationally, he previously attended camps during his time at the Bulls.<\/p>\n Rassie Erasmus\u2019 verdict on World Rugby\u2019s \u2018special ruling\u2019 for England-bound back who is Springboks-tied<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Tigers\u2019 recruit prop on Rassie\u2019s radar<\/p>\n While the Tigers look set lose the services of a South African, the club could be adding another to their payroll in the form of Sampie Swiegers.<\/p>\n The little-known prop shot into the limelight in 2024 when he was invited to Rassie Erasmus\u2019 Springboks alignment camp despite not plying his trade with any of the big four franchises in South Africa \u2013 the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers.<\/p>\n South Africa were scheduled to play against Wales in early July \u2013 the same day as the URC final \u2013 and Erasmus made contingency plans in case two of the teams reached the showpiece event. Ultimately, that wasn\u2019t the case, and Swiegers didn\u2019t receive a call-up, but his inclusion in the alignment camps certainly caught the eye.<\/p>\n Since then, he has continued to ply his trade with Currie Cup outfit, the Pumas, with whom he has a contract with until October this year.<\/p>\n According to Rapport, the tighthead prop has met with representatives from Leicester Tigers and is now awaiting feedback from the PREM Rugby outfit.<\/p>\n Wales international loosehead Nicky Smith has signed a deal to join Sale Sharks next season, and are rumoured to be in talks with Georgian prop Giorgi Tetrashvili to be his replacement.<\/p>\n One could assume that Swiegers is being targeted<\/a> by Tigers due to Joe Heyes\u2019 growing importance to the England national team, while the side hasn\u2019t really moved to replace club legend Dan Cole.<\/p>\n The publication spoke to Swiegers, who kept his cards close to his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m currently focusing on doing my best where I am,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf opportunities come my way, I\u2019m grateful for them. Like any other player, I remain aware of opportunities here and abroad, but there\u2019s nothing in writing.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe if I give my best where I am at the moment, the right opportunity will come my way at the right time, but until then I can only control what happens on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2024, Erasmus stated that Daan Human \u2013 the guru behind the Springboks\u2019 scrum dominance \u2013 was a fan of the Pumas prop<\/a>, a fact that should excite Tigers\u2019 fans.<\/p>\n Rugby Transfers: Springbok in demand, All Black on the market, Wallabies snub leaves, World Cup-winner linked with Test gig and more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sharks swoop for cover<\/p>\n Staying with the South African props, Rapport states that the Sharks have signed Cheetahs prop Cameron Dawson who will join the Durban-based side in February as injury cover.<\/p>\n The publication does not specify the length of the deal but does detail that he has been brought in to provide cover after injuries to Ruan Dreyer and Simphiwe Matanzima.<\/p>\n Dreyer is currently nursing an ACL injury, with the 35-year-old keeping himself busy by coaching at Martizburg College, while a back injury is keeping Matanzima, who joined the Durbanites from the Bulls at the start of the season, on the sidelines.<\/p>\n Dawson heads to Durban after featuring in all three of the Cheetahs\u2019 Challenge Cup fixtures against Exeter, Stade Francais and Racing 92.<\/p>\n Additionally, it is reported that Vincent Koch could return to PREM Rugby next season. The double Rugby World Cup winner recently returned from injury for the Sharks and could make the switch back to England for one final hurrah before hanging up his boots.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n Barbeary tug-of-war, Sinckler situation<\/p>\n Bath\u2019s star back-rower Alfie Barbeary is at the centre of a PREM Rugby tug-of-war, according to RugbyPass <\/a>who report that Sale Sharks are eager to add him to their payroll.<\/p>\n Sale have already confirmed the signings of Tomas Francis, Nicky Smith and Joe Marchant ahead of next season, but have missed out on other high-profile targets, including George Martin and Chandler Cunningham-South.<\/p>\n With Dan du Preez set to leave the Manchester club at the end of the season, Sale have turned their attentions to Barbeary, but Bath are eager to extend his contract, which expires at the end of the season.<\/p>\n