Aphelele Fassi will join Japanese Rugby League One club Brave Lupus in Fuchū for the 2026-27 season, the Sharks confirmed on Thursday. The 28-year-old fullback departs on a sabbatical structured into his renewed Sharks contract, with his return to Durban locked in for July 2027.
Fassi is one of three internationals recruited by Brave Lupus ahead of the season, alongside Scotland and Glasgow Warriors flanker Jack Dempsey and All Black centre David Havili, who joins from the Crusaders.
He will link up with the Tokyo Prefecture club following the conclusion of his Springbok commitments later this year. Fassi has earned 15 Test caps since his debut against Georgia at Loftus in July 2021 and has been a fixture at Kings Park since 2018.
"I've always believed that the best experiences come from stepping outside your comfort zone," Fassi said, adding that his focus on the field would be contributing to the team's success and competing for championships.
Matt Norton, Head of Rugby at Roc Nation Sports International, described the arrangement as giving Fassi "the perfect platform to test himself in a world-class environment" before returning to the Sharks as a more complete player.