A Springbok star will head to Japan when his Sharks contract ends in June.
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According to rapport, Grant Williams has decided not to extend his deal in Durban and will continue his career in Japan Rugby League One later this year.
The 29-year-old scrumhalf is currently in Japan to familiarise himself with his new surroundings ahead of the move.
While his Bok teammate Kurt-Lee Arendse is reportedly heading back to the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars from the Vodacom Bulls, Williams is understood to be heading to a different club.
Williams has been with the Sharks since 2018 after coming through the ranks at Paarl Gymnasium and has developed into a regular Springbok squad member.
He has already informed the Sharks that he will not be renewing his contract.
His departure follows that of Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am, who left the Sharks for the Dynaboars last November.
The Sharks are close to finalising their senior coaching team around JP Pietersen.
The Durban-based club is looking for a new attack coach after Dave Williams accepted a role with the USA Eagles. It is believed his involvement with the Americans will be on a consulting basis and the Sharks may still look to tap into his expertise in some capacity going forward.
The Sharks are not expected to make changes elsewhere.
Forwards coach Warren Whiteley, scrum coach Philip Lemmer and defence coach Joey Mongalo are all set to remain part of the senior set-up, while former head coach John Plumtree is likely to continue in a consultancy role.
Pietersen is expected to have the final say on Williams’ replacement. Sharks CEO Shaun Bryan has overseen the process, with a number of candidates thought to have been considered.
The Sharks recently brought in Alan Zondagh, Stefan Terblanche and Grant Bashford to review the structures of their high-performance teams
