Behemoth Lions front-row Asenathi Ntlabakanye has extended his stay with the Johannesburg-based outfit while Bath have bolstered their backline stocks by signing Santiago Carreras and Bernard van der Linde.

There was plenty of speculation over Ntlabakanye’s future with Top 14 heavyweights Toulouse reportedly keen to buy him out of his current contract which is set to expire in 2026.

However, the 25-year-old has opted to stay with the Lions as he has signed a two-year contract extension.

The Lions issued a short statement on Wednesday (5th February) in which Ntlabakanye confirmed his decision to stay with the United Rugby Championship (URC) side.

“I’m here to stay!” “This means a lot to me,” he said. “Having been part of the Lions family since my school days, and now getting the opportunity to stay here for a few more years is incredibly special to me.

‘I look forward to seeing a whole lot more of you’

“To all the Lions fans – I look forward to seeing a whole lot more of you at Emirates Airline Park.”

Meanwhile, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has acquired the services of halfback duo Carreras and Van der Linde.

Carreras has shone at fly-half for Gloucester but is also at home at full-back, fly-half and wing.

The 26-year-old will join the Premiership outfit this summer ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Carreras made his Test debut for Argentina in 2019 and represented his country at the World Cup later that same year. He has gone on to make 53 Test appearances for Los Pumas including at the 2023 World Cup.

After joining Gloucester from the Jaguares in 2020, Carreras has scored 256 Premiership points including 21 tries, was voted Coaches’ Player of the Season during the 2022/23 Premiership campaign, and was an EPCR Challenge Cup finalist in 2024.

On starting his journey with Bath, Carreras said: “I moved to the UK in 2020 in the middle of a pandemic, and I’m hugely grateful to be continuing my journey here.

“I’m excited about contributing to Bath over the course of the next few seasons. I want to push myself to keep improving as a player and to help the club win trophies and titles.

POPULAR ON PLANET RUGBY

“Having spoken to Johann, the club is in a really exciting phase, with world-class players, coaches and the development of a new stadium. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Van Graan is delighted that Carreras has decided to further his career at Bath.

Highly rated player

“Santi is a starting Test player and one of the main reasons for signing him is his versatility along with his game-winning abilities.,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to working with Santi and realise his dream of becoming the best player he can be. Family is very important to both me and Santi, and I believe he will fit in incredibly well in our family-first environment.”

Bath have also signed Bulls scrum-half Van der Linde, who will join the West Country-based outfit on a two-year deal from URC-based outfit the Bulls ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Van der Linde has been part of the Bulls’ senior set-up for the last six years, featuring in the Currie Cup, URC, and Investec Champions Cup.

“Bernard is a player with huge potential,” said Van Graan. “I saw him play as a junior and he impressed me then, both on and off the field. On the field he is a running nine and loves the physical part of the game.

“Off the field he is diligent and loves the game of rugby. I am really looking forward to seeing his growth at Bath Rugby over the next few years.”

Van der Linde said: “As a small kid it has always been rugby all the way. There was never a thought of doing anything else in life. I remember me and my brother playing rugby in the back yard with the neighbours almost every single day after school and training my passes with my dad every time I was bored at home.

“Things I remember from a young age is that my mum and dad have always been very supportive of me and have been to almost every game I played if it was possible. So, I can’t wait for them to come and watch their first game in Bath when the time comes.”