Steven Sykes has been released from his deal at Leinster to re-join the Sharks ahead of the new Super Rugby season.
Lock returns home after brief spell with Leinster
Steven Sykes has been released from his deal at Leinster to re-join the Sharks ahead of the new Super Rugby season.
The 27-year-old lock has made just the four appearances for Leinster since arriving in 2011 on a three-year deal.
However Sykes has now agreed a 12-month deal to return to Natal.
"When I got the opportunity to play for Leinster, I really jumped at it and it's been great," he told the Sharks' official site.
Opportunity
"I always knew that I'd want to come back to the Sharks, but I didn't realise I would miss them quite so badly, so when the chance came to join them again, I grabbed it with both hands.
"I can't wait to get back there and contribute."
Sykes will now battle with Alistair Hargreaves, Ross Skeate, Anton Bresler and Jandre Marais for a place in the Sharks engine room.
"There are some amazing young locks, along with some older hands," added Sykes.
"It is going to be great playing with these guys and I know how hard it is going to be when competing with them for selection."
Sharks will begin their Super Rugby campaign on February 24 when they travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls in the season's curtain-raiser.
