Aphiwe Dyantyi is on the verge of making his return to the field after being included in a 28-player Sharks squad for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship opening tour.
The Sharks on Monday announced their tour squad, consisting of 16 forwards and 12 backs, for their opening fixtures away to defending champions Munster, Leinster, Ospreys and Zebre.
Dyantyi is among the four new signings named in the squad, alongside veterans Coenie Oosthuizen and Francois Hougaard and promising loose forward George Cronje.
The Springbok-capped winger could play his first game since 2019 when the Sharks take on Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
Dyantyi was quickly snapped up by the Sharks ahead of his four-year ban for doping ending back in August.
The Sharks will be led by experienced centre Francois Venter, who was appointed as captain on an interim basis for the tour.
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Sharks tour squad:
Forwards
Coenie Oosthuizen, Corne Rahl, Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Dylan Richardson, Emile van Heerden, George Cronje, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Kerron van Vuuren, Khwezi Mona, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Phepsi Buthelezi, Reniel Hugo, Sikumbuzo Notshe, Vincent Tshituka.
Backs
Aphelele Fassi, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Boeta Chamberlain, Cameron Wright, Curwin Bosch, Francois Hougaard, Francois Venter (c), Marnus Potgieter, Mthokozisi Mkhabela, Murray Koster, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Werner Kok.
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Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images