Reminder: In-form Springbok star returning to play in SA

Towards the end of last year, it shouldn’t be forgotten that a big piece of rugby news was confirmed when it was revealed that Springbok prop would be returning to the Sharks after the 2025/26 season.

Du Toit joined Bath after the 2023 World Cup and helped the English team to the Premiership title at Twickenham in June, and the powerful prop has effectively established himself as one of the club’s most successful imports.

The 30-year-old front-rower, known for his versatility at tighthead and loosehead, will soon bring extensive experience back to the Sharks, and it comes at time when he is in the form of his life.

Springbok star on fire

Just this past weekend, Du Toit delivered a match-defining performance against Saracens at The Rec on Saturday, earning high praise from South African coach Johann van Graan.

“Thomas was fantastic in that second half,” said Van Graan.

“If you look at his two years and nine months that he’s been at Bath, in my view, he’s become one of the best players in the whole world of rugby, and he showed it again against Saracens.

“He was absolutely phenomenal in the scrum, in defence and attack. That’s why you build a squad. You call on 20-50 guys on a weekend and all credit to the players.”

Good news for Sharks and Boks

Increasingly, Du Toit looks certain to remain a fixture in the Springbok matchday squad in the lead up to – and during – the 2027 World Cup, while the Sharks are also sure to benefit from the return of a player who plied his trade in Durban for several years earlier in his career.

Not that long ago, Du Toit also revealed why he turned down a lucrative offer from Bordeaux to return to the Sharks.

Speaking on the Maul or Nothing podcast, he admitted that he had rejected a “very good” deal from the reigning Champions Cup winners in favour of a four-year contract in Durban.

“There was a moment where we thought, ‘Do you know what, we’re just going to do it – bite the bullet and go for it 100%,’” Du Toit said. “But we knew what the right decision was.

“We did turn down the offer from Bordeaux. It was a very good offer, it was a very fair offer, and we were extremely grateful for it. I had the conversation with (head coach) Yannick (Bru), but we were looking more to the future with family and getting them settled. Our whole life is in South Africa.”