Overseas-based Bok ‘keen’ to return to South Africa

Springbok front rower Vincent Koch is currently playing for Stade Francais in France, having made the move to the Paris-based club after his stay was cut short at English Premiership club Wasps when the team entered administration in 2022.

It was recently reported by Afrikaans newspaper Rapport that the 32-year-old prop is on the Sharks’ radar, and UK-based publication The Rugby Paper further backs that up with an article stating he is keen to return home to South Africa.

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If the deal materialises, Koch will return to South Africa for the first time since 2016, the year he left the Stormers to join English giants Saracens. 

Koch played professionally in South African the Pumas and the Stormers, before moving abroad to join Sarries, where he played for five seasons. 

Should Koch sign for the Sharks, the 2019 World Cup winner would link up with fellow Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche, Jaden Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi.

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SPRINGBOKS TEST FIXTURES IN 2023

Rugby Championship:

✈ 8 July: South Africa vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

✈ 15 July: South Africa vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)

✈ 29 July: Springboks vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

LIVE UPDATES: SPRINGBOKS’ ROAD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

World Cup warm-ups:

✈ 5 August: South Africa vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)

✈ 19 August: Springboks vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

✈ 25 August: South Africa vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)

Rugby World Cup:

✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille) 

✈ 17 September: Springboks vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux) 

✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris) 

✈ 1 October: Springboks vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

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Quarter-finals sequence of play is as follows:
QF 1 — Winner Pool C vs Runner up Pool D
QF 2 — Winner Pool B vs Runner up Pool A
QF 3 — Winner Pool D vs Runner up Pool C
QF 4 — Winner Pool A vs Runner up Pool B

Semi-finals sequence of play is as follows:
SF 1 — Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF 2 — Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

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Third place playoff:
Loser SF 1 vs Loser SF 2

World Cup final:
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2

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