World champion with South Africa in 2023, Grant Williams is leaving the Sharks. The half-back will join some of his fellow countrymen in Japan.
The South African colony in Japan is growing. The Sharks have announced the departure of their winger, Grant Williams, to the land of the rising sun. The future team of the Springbok is not yet known, but a new renowned player is joining the World Cup 2019 hosting country. After nearly ten years with the Sharks, Williams has played 81 games, scoring 25 tries. He won the Currie Cup in 2018 and the Challenge Cup in 2024. However, it was with the Springboks jersey that he experienced his greatest moments of glory. His versatility as a half-back-winger often saw him on the bench, but he still lifted the World Cup in 2023 and the Rugby Championship in 2024 and 2025.
Grant Williams will depart at the end of the season as he heads to Japan 🇯🇵 Wishing you all the best on your next chapter 🏤🎈 pic.twitter.com/bj3KVCLWqp— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 20, 2026
The long list of Boks in Japan
Although his contract with the Sharks was supposed to run until 2027, he will now leave the franchise sooner than expected and join his many compatriots who are already playing in Japan. Among them are big names like former Toulouse player Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), and Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners).
