Grant Williams will depart the Sharks when his contract expires in June, with the franchise confirming on Monday that the scrumhalf is heading to Japan.
The specific club has not been disclosed, though the circumstantial case for Yokohama Eagles is strong: Faf de Klerk is leaving Yokohama to join the Cheetahs, and the Eagles already have Jesse Kriel in their ranks. Williams would slot into a franchise that clearly has an appetite for Springbok talent.
Williams, who has 28 Test caps since his international debut in 2022, came through the Sharks system from 2017 and spent his entire professional career at the Durban franchise.
His move continues a steady flow of Springboks to Japan, joining Kurt-Lee Arendse and Ruan Nortje in making the switch.