Springbok prop Vincent Koch has revealed that teammate Eben Etzebeth helped convince him to return home and join the Cell C Sharks.

Koch, 33, will depart Stade Francais following this year’s Rugby World Cup to sign a contract with Kings Park Stadium.

This season, lock Etzebeth relocated to Durban to play alongside Springboks World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, who will be making the reverse journey to Paris to join Racing 92.

“Eben got lured by Siya Kolisi and I got lured by Eben,” Koch told AFP.

“Mates from the Springboks made my decision much easier,” he added.

Koch left South Africa in 2016 to sign a contract with Saracens in England. Last summer, he left to join Wasps, but he never played for them because the club went bankrupt in October.

In response, he accepted an offer to join Stade Francais for the remainder of this season in the Top 14.

Koch was born in Empangeni, just two hours north of Durban, and his wife is a native of the city.

“She went back home and saw my son enjoying being with his grandparents a lot,” Koch said.

“I realised that there’s nothing stronger than family. I’ve been away from my family for the last seven years, I’ve missed my family, I’ve missed my country.”

Koch, Etzebeth, and Kolisi won the 2019 World Cup alongside Koch, who will replace Thomas Du Toit at the Sharks, who compete internationally in the United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup.

Du Toit, age 27, will depart for the English club Bath at the conclusion of the tournament, which concludes on October 28 in Paris.

“The Sharks gave me an opportunity,” he said. “They said they were keen and were looking to get me on board.

“Thomas Du Toit has signed for Bath so there’s an opportunity at tight-head.

“They came to the table and I was more than happy to go to the Sharks.”

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