The Cell C Sharks have added to their growing list of World Cup winners with the signing of Eben Etzebeth.
The 30-year-old will return to South Africa with the Durban United Rugby Championship side at the end of the season, having been granted early release from his contract at French club Toulon.
Etzebeth joined Toulon following the 2019 Rugby World Cup but his Test rugby commitments and a concussion-enforced break this season have seen his relationship with the club deteriorate, with president Bernard Lermaitre describing the highly-paid lock as a "handicap" to the team in January.
The 97-cap second row still had time left on his contract but agreed to mutually terminate the deal with the French side at the end of this season, with the Sharks confirming his signing this morning.
The tank just got a whole lot more dangerous! Welcome to the family @EbenEtzebeth 🖤 #OurSharksForever pic.twitter.com/qxYz75BOWM
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) February 17, 2022
A World Cup winner in 2019, the former Stormer is closing in on his century of caps for the Springboks, and was arguably the player of the series in their 2-1 victory over the British and Irish Lions last summer.
The Sharks have recovered from a poor start to the United Rugby Championship season, climbing up to ninth in the table.
And Etzebeth's arrival adds to to what is now looking like a formidable squad of players, with Etzebeth joining fellow Springboks Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am, Ox Nche, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Aphelele Fassi and Thomas du Toit in Sean Everitt's squad.
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