Our latest rugby transfers and rumours update focuses on an All Blacks powerhouse returning to New Zealand, Frans Malherbe’s future at the Stormers and why the Bulls need the Springboks’ help to retain the services of their star scrum-half.
All Blacks powerhouse returning?
Shannon Frizell could return to New Zealand and the Highlanders in a bid to make the All Blacks‘ Rugby World Cup squad, according to a report by The Post NZ.
The 33-year-old qualifies to switch international allegiance to Tonga in October this year through World Rugby’s birthright transfer, having last played for New Zealand in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa, a match in which he was yellow-carded for his ruck entry that ended Bongi Mbonambi’s involvement. However, New Zealand Rugby are moving to avoid losing the blindside flanker by securing his return to the Highlanders.
Before the tournament in France, Frizell joined Richie Mo’unga in signing a deal with Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo. He initially signed a two-year deal, which he extended in 2025 by a further season. With that contract now expiring, the duo could make their returns to New Zealand at the same time.
Frizell would be a huge boost for the All Blacks, who have struggled to fill his void in the number six jersey since his departure to Japan. Simon Parker finished 2025 as the starting blindside under former head coach Scott Robertson, who also utilised Wallace Sititi and Tupou Vaa’i in the position. Samipeni Finau and Ethan Blackadder also featured in the role under Robertson with the former being unconvincing while the latter has struggled with injuries.
The return of Frizell would be a major coup for the Highlanders and All Blacks, with Jason Ryan ruing the departure of Frizell back in 2023.
“I think that could have been done better, to be honest. Shannon didn’t really want to go,” he said.
“So there’s a few things going on behind the scenes and I think sometimes that contracting stuff can be done a little bit better.”
Stormers ready to extend Frans Malherbe’s contract
The Stormers are willing to extend Frans Malherbe’s contract amid interest from Top 14 club La Rochelle.
The double Rugby World Cup-winning prop is awaiting medical clearance to return to action, having been sidelined since April last year and despite weighing up retirement, the Stormers are willing to extend his contract which expires at the end of the season.
“If he continues to play and wants to stay with the Stormers, we will ofcourse accommodate him in the interest of him and the national team,” Director of Rugby John Dobson told Rapport.
Malherbe has played all of his club rugby at the Stormers but has been lined up for a move to France with La Rochelle scouting the market for an experienced tighthead following the abrupt retirement of France international Uini Atonio.
The Stormers would get assistance from SA Rugby, though if Malherbe gets clearance from the doctors and wants to remain in Cape Town through the Player of National Interest program.
The tighthead contemplated retirement because of the seriousness of his back injury and subsequent hip injury that has delayed his comeback but Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus managed to convince him to shelve those plans and instead work his way back to full fitness before making a decision.
Dobson is set to have four Springbok tighthead props on his books next season with Wilco Louw arriving from the Bulls while Neethling Fouche and Zachery Porthen both made their debuts in Green and Gold last year.
He believes that will still be plenty of game time to go around to keep all the tightheads content, even with further talents like Sazi Sandi and Herman Lubbe on the pay roll.
“I think it’s common knowledge that Frans’ days of playing a lot of club rugby are behind him, so there won’t be a problem,” he said.
“There are increasing demands on the Boks, they tend to all be away at the same time too. We need to make sure we have the depth to maintain our scrum culture for when our internationals are not there.”
Bulls need SA Rugby’s help to keep Papier
While SA Rugby are bound to assist the Stormers with Malherbe’s contract situation, the Bulls are hoping that the union will do the same with scrum-half Embrose Papier, whose contract expires in June 2027.
The rapid number nine hasn’t played for the Springboks since 2018 but has been staking a strong claim for a recall through his consistent performances with the Bulls. He has been particularly brilliant this season for the men from Pretoria, but was not invited to the Springbok alignment camps.
According to Rapport, the Bulls will have a ‘hard time’ retaining Papier’s services beyond 2027 without the financial aid of SA Rugby’s PONI contract as his stocks continue to rise with each standout performance.
A similar situation unfolded with Joseph Dweba who went on to sign with PREM Rugby club Exeter Chiefs after he was no longer considered to be a PONI by the Springboks having fallen down the hooker pecking order.
For Papier to become a PONI player, he’d need to secure a recall to Erasmus’ Springboks squad but it’s a position where South Africa are not short on options. Cobus Reinach shone for the Boks last year with Erasmus noting that he was probably ‘in the form of his career’ despite being well into his 30s.
Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg featured throughout the year, whilst the coaching staff also utilised Faf de Klerk, a player they kept in the loop despite his absence from the Rugby Championship and end-of-year squads.
Hershell Jantjies was invited to the virtual alignment camp along with De Klerk, whilst Jaden Hendrikse and Haashim Pead attended the in-person Cape Town camp.
Pead is the youngest of the lot at 20 and has been tipped to enjoy a long international career having shone at under-20s level and in the handful of appearances he has made for the Lions.
Additionally, Ivan van Zyl is rumoured to be joining the Sharks after a successful stint at Saracens and the 30-year-old could also press for his first cap since 2018 while other up-and-comers in the position locally include Bradley Davids, Nico Steyn and Imad Khan.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Kriel’s Bulls departure
Papier is not the only concern for Bulls boss Johan Ackermann who will lose the services of Louw to the Stormers next season with Rapport stating that Kurt-Lee Arendse will be returning to Japan, rejoining the Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars.
Utility back David Kriel is attracting interest from northern hemisphere clubs, namely the Glasgow Warriors and La Rochelle, as well as suitors in Japan.
In March, Rapport stated that Kriel had opted to sign with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle while Franco Smith addressed the links to Glasgow after the Investec Champions Cup round of 16 clash victory over the Bulls.
“He’s definitely one of the guys we’ve spoken to and I think he’s a good rugby player. I’ve known him since he was a schoolboy,” he said.
“But there’s also other names in the conversation and we will see how that progresses going forward. But I mean, we’re looking for that type of player with that utility background so that we can use it.”
Kriel’s departure adds to the Bulls’ woes with Johan Goosen hanging up his boots after another injury setback but the men from Pretoria have reportedly secured the signatures of Sharks prop Mawande Mdanada and Brive back Curwin Bosch while Hanro Liebenberg has confirmed that he will return to the club. Thaakir Abrahams is reportedly on the Bulls’ shortlist too.
READ MORE: Investec Champions Cup: Quarter-final dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage confirmed