Springboks lock and Top 14 prop unveiled as latest Sharks recruits

Harlequins confirmed that Lewies, who has made 88 appearances for the PREM Rugby club in all competitions since joining them in 2019 from the Lions, will head back to his native South Africa.

The one-Test Springboks representative has had a successful stint at the Twickenham Stoop-based club, and he will be in familiar surroundings at the Sharks as he started his senior professional career at the Durban-based outfit in 2012 before leaving in 2018.

In November 2020, he was named Quins' club captain, succeeding former England flanker Chris Robshaw.

In that leadership role Lewies led Harlequins through a memorable 2020/21 season which culminated in the club winning its second PREM title with a 40-38 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the final at Twickenham.

In the 2024/25 season, Lewies relinquished the captaincy, with Alex Dombrandt replacing him as Harlequins' skipper, but the second-rower has remained a valuable and influential member of the club's leadership group.

"I reflect on my seven years at the club with a huge amount of gratitude. I arrived at the club in 2019 with a few suitcases and a girlfriend, I'm leaving the club with a lot of memories, new friends, a wife and baby," said Lewies.

"My time at Quins has been unbelievable. It's hard to put it into words really and say thank you enough, but gratitude is the word that comes to mind and a lot of pride as well.

"The aim for this season is to finish on a high. If there is one club that has proven they can turn it around, it is Harlequins and I believe we can do that.

"It started against the Stormers at the weekend, and we have got another big game against La Rochelle on Sunday.

"On a personal level, my slogan for the rest of the season is to 'empty the tank' and give everything I have to the Quins jersey, whether that's on or off the pitch. I just want to give my all and make everyone proud."

Harlequins' senior coach Jason Gilmore wished Lewies well on his impending move to the Sharks. "We wish Steph, Ash and their family all the best as they return back home to South Africa," he said.

"We will miss having Steph's presence at the club, but we know he has left a positive legacy for the next wave of Harlequins to come through."

Meanwhile, Roelofse will leave Top 14 strugglers Perpignan after agreeing terms on a three-year contract with the Sharks.

He has made 45 appearances for Perpignan, starting in 22, and has scored two tries. He joined Perpignan from Top 14 rivals Stade Francais, who he represented from 2021 to 2023.

Prior to that, his senior career started in South Africa with South Western Districts, who he represented in the Currie Cup First Division. He also had stints in France with lower division clubs Albi and Nevers before he joined Stade Francais.