Aphelele Fassi's sabbatical clause — confirmed as a Japan move, almost certainly to join Am and Grant Williams — opens a real positional gap at the Sharks. The piece by Gavin Rich maps just how thin the depth chart has become: Kunene and the promising Giliomee have both signed for the Bulls, leaving Siyaya — still a teenager with limited top-level exposure — as the most natural in-position option. Rich notes the trend of Japan sabbaticals becoming permanent departures (Am and Arendse are the cautionary examples), and while Fassi is contractually committed to return, the Sharks are effectively being asked to build around a fullback position in flux for at least a season. Hendrikse and Jaco Williams are flagged as workaround options, but both come with caveats — fitness and positional fit respectively.
Fassi's Japan move leaves the Sharks with a genuine fullback headache
Fassi's confirmed Japan sabbatical strips the Sharks of their first-choice fullback for a season, but with Kunene and Giliomee also gone, Gavin Rich argues the Sharks are dangerously thin in the position — and questions whether teenage prospect Siyaya is ready to carry the load.
Fassi's Japan sabbatical exposes a fullback crisis brewing at the Sharks
Three fullbacks out in one off-season — Fassi to Japan, Kunene and Giliomee to the Bulls — leaves the Sharks dangerously thin at 15, with only a teenager and a few makeshift options to fill the void.
Grant Williams to join Kobelco Kobe Steelers for 2026-27 Japan Rugby League One season
Grant Williams has confirmed he will join Kobelco Kobe Steelers for the 2026-27 Japan Rugby League One season, with the Sharks replacing him by signing Ivan van Zyl.
Springboks open 2026 with 80-31 demolition of Barbarians in Gqeberha
The Springboks opened their 2026 international season with an 80-31 win over the Barbarians in Gqeberha, with Edwill van der Merwe grabbing a hat-trick and Cheslin Kolbe kicking 10 conversions in a 12-try haul.
Loftus test is a World Cup audition dressed up as a Nations Championship fixture
The Loftus test against Scotland doubles as a World Cup audition — Erasmus has selected a Bulls-heavy, less experienced side deliberately to see who handles pressure, with Roos, Fassi, Van der Merwe and others all carrying significant selection stakes into the fixture.
Fassi heads to Japan on sabbatical as Sharks confirm 2026/27 absence
Aphelele Fassi will join a Japanese Rugby League One club for the 2026/27 season on sabbatical, returning to the Sharks in July 2027 under the terms of his renewed contract.