Ernst van Rhyn admitted it will be “strange” to face the DHL Stormers in Cape Town less than a year after moving to England with the Sale Sharks.
Van Rhyn is among a contingent of South Africans who will be taking on the DHL Stormers in a Champions Cup pool match on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old was born and raised in the Western Cape and spent the entirety of his professional career in Cape Town, before taking up the opportunity to move abroad to the Manchester-based Sharks last April.
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In an interview with Netwerk24, the former Junior Springbok captain admitted that he has mixed emotions about facing his boyhood team.
“It’s going to be very strange,” Van Rhyn told Netwerk24. “And weird for my family because they’re going to have to shout for the Sale Sharks! At home, we are all loyal Stormers supporters.
“Actually, I feel it is a special opportunity to be able to return in my first season after being away, to be able to play in Cape Town against my old team in a stadium where I made memories. It’s very special and you have to experience it as such.”
Since moving to England, Van Rhyn has proved to be a big hit in the Premiership, earning plaudits for his workrate and defence in particular.
He said that he still keeps in touch with Stormers coach John Dobson and many of his former teammates.
“Dobbo sent me a message before I left and again a few months ago when he saw that I was doing well and there were positive reports about me. It’s quite special that we still have contact,” Van Rhyn said.
“It’s just this week where we’re going to cross swords a bit. I think that the relationships I have built here [in Cape Town] are a little deeper than giving it all up in a week.”
Photo: George Wood/Getty Images for Sale Sharks