South African talent once again features heavily across the English Premiership, with almost every side boasting players born and bred in the Republic.
The competition kicks off in just over a month, with clubs already deep into pre-season and the battle for supremacy heating up. Bath, the defending champions, will be eager to show their dream campaign was no one-off.
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They are led by former Springbok assistant Johann van Graan and lean on Bok prop Thomas du Toit as a cornerstone of their pack. Former Western Province and Stormers lock Quin Roux, ex-WP prop Francois van Wyk, and loose forward Jaco Coetzee, who has been at the club since 2020, add further South African muscle.
The Bristol Bears, recently in the spotlight for signing Welsh NFL tryout Louis Rees-Zammit, include utility back Benhard Janse van Rensburg, who moved to England in 2021 after three seasons with the Cheetahs.
The Exeter Chiefs have snapped up Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba from the Stormers, while Cape Town-born Italian international Ross Vintcent continues to shine at Sandy Park.
Gloucester have recruited Sharks flanker James Venter ahead of the 2025-26 season, bolstering their back row following Ruan Ackermann’s return to South Africa with the Stormers.
At Harlequins, Tyrone Green begins his sixth season as favourite for the No 15 jersey, already racking up 85 appearances, while former Sharks lock Stephan Lewies has earned a contract extension.
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Leicester Tigers stalwart Hanro Liebenberg, dubbed “Mr Reliable,” enters his seventh season, boasting over 130 caps and stepping up as a leader after the exits of Dan Cole and Ben Youngs.
On Tyneside, the rebranded Newcastle Red Bulls, boosted by new investment, have recruited former Blue Bulls flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain, who could start ahead of Brett Cannon.
Bringing flair and finesse to the 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 🎯✨#TrueNorth pic.twitter.com/zIQ0Dgb1CL
— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) August 20, 2025
JJ van der Mescht, the powerful lock from Durban, has joined Northampton Saints after four seasons at Stade Français and is set to pair with England international Alex Coles.
The Sale Sharks remain stacked with South Africans, including Robert and Dan du Preez, lock Ernst van Rhyn, and centre Marius Louw. They bid farewell to Jean-Luc du Preez, now at Bordeaux, but welcomed the consistently reliable Jacques Vermeulen from Exeter.
Finally, former Bulls scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl enters his sixth season at Saracens, having already played 100 matches and scored in their 2023 title-winning final against Sale.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
