Former Sharks flyhalf Garth April is among the 15 Sunwolves players to be named in an initial squad for the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season.

The Sunwolves on Tuesday released a list of 15 players who will be involved with the Japanese side as they enter their final Super Rugby tournament.

April, who has been playing in the Japanese Top League with the Shining Arcs, was among the 13 new players in the squad.

The 28-year-old joined the Sharks in 2015 after impressive showings with Durbanville-Bellville in the Gold Cup, South Africa’s premier club rugby competition. After performing in his first two seasons, and getting a Springbok call-up during their three-match series against Ireland in 2016, April struggled for game time in the following two seasons and played just one Super Rugby match in 2018.

The emergence of Curwin Bosch and Robert du Preez returning from a stint with Western Province hardly helped him during this period, while a shoulder injury prevented a potential comeback with the Bulls this year.

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Another surprising name in the Sunwolves squad is England centre Ben Te’o. The 32-year-old was left out of England’s World Cup squad after an altercation with teammate Mike Brown. He then signed a short-term deal with Toulon during the World Cup, effectively ending his Test career.

Sunwolves squad: Sione Asi, Jarred Adams, Leni Apasai, Jaba Bregvadze, Ben Hyne, Tom Rowe, Brendon O’Connor, Mitch Jacobson, Jake Schatz, Onehunga Kaufusi, Naoto Saito, Garth April, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Ben Te’o, Siosaia Fifita.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix