Etzebeth to play his first club match in South Africa since 2019

Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth is set to play his first club game in South Africa in more than three years when he debuts for the Cell C Sharks this Saturday – they are hosting Glasgow Warriors in the URC in Durban. Not since a June 2019 appearance for the Stormers at the Lions has the soon-to-be 31-year-old appeared in a club match at home as he joined Toulon soon after that year’s World Cup win with the Springboks.

Having since brought the curtain down on his time in France with last June’s Top 14 defeat for Toulon at Racing, Etzebeth has been busy with the Springboks for their Test series against Wales and the Rugby Championship.

However, he is now set to make his Sharks debut at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, a game that is taking place three weeks before the Springboks are next in action when they open their European tour with a Test game in Ireland on November 5.

It was last week when Etzebeth took to Instagram and posted pictures of his first day at work at the Sharks. “Finally started at my new home today,” read his accompanying message.

A club statement ahead of his debit said: “Eben Etzebeth will make his run-on debut for the Cell C Sharks on Saturday when they host Glasgow Warriors in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

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“Etzebeth has been a key and very popular signing for the Cell C Sharks and he will play alongside a number of Springboks who are back in URC action following the conclusion of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.”

Scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse is hoping that the Springboks in the team – such as himself – can quickly wield a major impact on the Sharks, who have so far won two of their three URC matches. “We would like to have a big influence, but within the Cell C Sharks’ DNA and fit in as smoothly as possible. A guy like Eben is super-excited to be playing,” he said.

Sharks (vs Glasgow, Saturday):
15. Aphelele Fassi; 14. Werner Kok, 13. Marnus Potgieter, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Anthony Volmink; 10. Boeta Chamberlain, 9. Jaden Hendrikse; 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 3. Thomas du Toit (capt), 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Hyron Andrews 6. Dylan Richardson, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi. Reps: 16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Reniel Hugo, 20. Siya Kolisi, 21. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22. Cameron Wright, 23. Makazole Mapimpi.