By Brenden Nel.
The Cell C Sharks have won the battle to keep the services of Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi.
Fassi announced that he would be staying at the Sharks after signing a new deal on Thursday, after a tug of war with the DHL Stormers also interested.
Fassi lost his place in the Springbok squad last year but has been in scintillating form in this year’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
“I’ve loved every single moment here at the Sharks, Durban has been my home ever since I left high school. I’ve spent the last six years at the Sharks and it has been great. The time has come to start a new chapter.
“I’m proud to announce my contract renewal with the Cell C Sharks. Durban is home, this jersey is home,” he said in an announcement video.
Unfortunately his time for the Sharks for the rest of the season will be short-lived as he is recovering from a shinbone injury that will keep him out for six to eight weeks after being injured in his side’s loss last weekend to the DHL Stormers.
That means the chances of him playing before the end of the season are slim, and he will need to find game time somewhere if he hopes to get his place back in the Springbok side.
Meanwhile former Cell C Sharks John Plumtee could shorty be back working out of HollywoodBets Kings Park as the Durban franchise looks to shake up its coaching structures going forward.
Neil Powell, the Sharks’ director of rugby and currently doubling as head coach following the departure of Sean Everitt in late October, told the post-match press conference following the Sharks’ defeat to the DHL Stormers in Cape Town at the weekend that an announcement will be made on a new coach in the coming weeks.