Sale Sharks have reignited their pursuit of Embrose Papier, who enters the final year of his Bulls contract. Alex Sanderson made an approach earlier this year and, despite adding Xavier Roe from the Chiefs following Raffi Quirke's departure to Newcastle Red Bulls, remains firmly interested in the 29-year-old. Papier spent a short stint at Sale on a temporary deal in 2019 and earned his most recent Springbok cap against Scotland in July.
In Cape Town, John Dobson is weighing a move to bring Herschel Jantjies back to the Stormers after serious injuries to both Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage in the match against the All Blacks left the franchise short at scrumhalf. Jantjies, 30, has a year remaining on his Bayonne contract, but director of rugby Laurent Travers is prepared to release him — a position that shifted once Jantjies re-entered Rassie Erasmus' plans for the Nations Championship. The Stormers would be a homecoming for Jantjies, who made close to 100 appearances for the franchise before moving to France.