Zimbabwe-born lock Landsberg leaves Lions for Exeter to chase World Cup debut

Darrien Landsberg is poised to leave the Lions and join Exeter Chiefs on a two-year contract, with the Zimbabwe-born lock targeting a first international cap after years spent chasing a Springbok call-up that never materialised.

Landsberg, who turns 28 in July, was knocking on Rassie Erasmus’ door last year for an invitation to the Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town but missed out. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Johannesburg, he has yet to represent the country of his birth, having held out for a Bok opportunity. The move to Sandy Park could now open the door to lining up against England at the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

The 6ft 5in, 17st 6lb forward is versatile enough to cover both lock positions and openside flanker, and is understood to have made 51 appearances for the Lions. His departure was hastened by the arrival of Hyron Andrews from Sale Sharks, which would have limited his playing time in Johannesburg. The URC quarter-final defeat to Leinster is expected to have been his final outing for the club.

Landsberg started his career at the Golden Lions before a stint at the Pumas, and becomes the second lock to leave the Lions this summer after Ruben Schoeman joined fly-half Lubabalo Dobela in moving to Narbonne in France’s third-tier Nationale.

His signing is also set to coincide with a significant moment in Exeter’s off-field story. The paperwork for Black Knight Entertainment’s takeover of the Chiefs has been signed and is due to be announced within the next couple of weeks, with head coach Rob Baxter expected to continue his summer recruitment once the deal is formalised.

Baxter had previously indicated he had room in his salary cap but had already spent his allocated budget for next season, with the Black Knight takeover expected to provide additional financial firepower. Exeter were beaten by Northampton Saints in last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership final.