A round up of what some of South Africa’s leading Sunday papers are saying, including reports linking Western Province and the Sharks to giant overseas clubs.

According to a report by writer Hendrik Cronje in Rapport, Western Province Rugby is set to enter into a groundbreaking partnership with French club Stade Français.

Apart from the previously revealed working relationship/exchange programme between the two teams’ players and coaches, this new strategic alliance would see WP Rugby having a European headquarters in Paris dedicated to boost its Pr016 Rainbow Cup campaign as well as an annual friendly match between the Stormers and Stade with the venue alternating between Cape Town and Paris.

Reports in England suggest an American consortium is lining up a sensational deal to buy into beleaguered English club Saracens. The investment company MSD Capital is looking to enter into a deal with Sarries upon recommendation from Marco Masotti, who was has shares in said company.

The potential deal should be of particular interest to the Sharks, who also recently sold shares to MVM Holdings, a private business consortium headed by Masotti. It is believed it was on a recent visit to Durban when Masotti met former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, who facilitated the deal with Saracens. Masotti is believed to want to create a long-term strategic relationship between the Sharks and Saracens.

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