A South African giant is leaving Glasgow Warriors, tracing Eben Etzebeth’s footsteps to League One rugby in Osaka, Japan.

Injury-hit former Cheetahs, Sale and Glasgow lock, JP du Preez has reportedly signed a deal with NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes. The 30-year-old South African lock, who stands 2.09m tall, joins a roster that once boasted Springbok players such as Etzebeth and Handre Pollard.

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Du Preez was drafted into the Cheetahs setup from the Lions in 2018 by then-coach Franco Smith, and followed Smith to Glasgow in 2022. Between those spells, he made 34 appearances for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership, featuring alongside fellow South Africans Dan, Jean-Luc and Robert du Preez.

Having spent most of the past two seasons sidelined by a serious knee injury, Du Preez now makes a fresh start in Japan.

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