Manie Libbok will return to South African rugby with the Hollywoodbets Sharks from July, signing a multi-year deal after his current stint with Kintetsu Liners in Japan. The 29-year-old had been contracted to the Stormers until 2027 before being released early at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Libbok first played for the Sharks before his career took off at the Stormers in 2021, where he was a key figure in their 2022 URC title triumph. His return to Durban marks a deliberate shift in how the Sharks are approaching recruitment — targeting players who fit head coach JP Pietersen's attacking system rather than simply chasing marquee names.
Pietersen made clear the signing is about more than star power. "Manie is a game changer and playmaker and that is precisely the type of player we need driving our game," he said. "Fast, physical and relentless isn't just a line for us. It needs players who can bring it to life for us every week and Manie does that."
The Sharks have a cluster of young backs to build around, including 19-year-old fullback Zikethelo Siyaya, Jurenzo Julius, and Jaco Williams, alongside established Boks Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, and Edwill van der Merwe. Libbok's ability to unlock defences and elevate those around him makes him a natural fit at the centre of that system.
The Stormers were an obvious alternative destination — Libbok's departure from Cape Town was described as amicable — but with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu contracted there until 2029 and Junior World Championship winner Yaqeen Ahmed also on John Dobson's books, the path back to the DHL Newlands was effectively closed.
The Sharks have Junior World Championship-winning flyhalf Vusi Moyo on their books, with the expectation that he will benefit from working alongside Libbok. Gianni Lombard and Jordan Hendrikse, both capable of covering fullback, also remain in the squad.