By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe-born lock Darrien Landsberg has completed a move to the Sharks from the Lions ahead of the 2026 Currie Cup and United Rugby Championship campaigns.
The 28-year-old had been linked with a switch to English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs but will instead continue his career in South Africa after joining one of the country’s leading franchises.
Landsberg leaves the Lions after making 90 appearances across all competitions and also spent time on loan with the Pumas between 2020 and 2022.
His arrival bolsters a Sharks squad preparing for another United Rugby Championship campaign while providing the second-row forward with another opportunity to push for higher honours.
Although eligible to represent Zimbabwe, Landsberg has made no secret of his ambition to earn Springbok honours and recently reiterated that representing South Africa remains his priority.
“To be completely honest, until Rassie [Erasmus] tells me that the door is completely closed, I can’t allow myself to believe that it is,” Landsberg told Rugby365.
“When I look at myself in the mirror every day, I know that I can be a Springbok and I will be a Springbok.
“Because of what South African rugby means, I want to give myself the opportunity of saying I believe I’m the best, so why not try to be with the best?”
Landsberg added that he would still consider representing the country of his birth should the opportunity to play for South Africa no longer materialise.
“If that point comes where Rassie tells me the door is closed, then by all means it would be an honour to represent Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe have previously explored the possibility of bringing Landsberg into the Sables set-up as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, but the towering lock has maintained his focus on breaking into the Springbok squad.
The move to the Sharks now offers Landsberg another opportunity to impress in the United Rugby Championship and strengthen his case for future international selection.