Double Heineken Champions Cup winner Vincent Koch is Cell C Sharks’ headline signing for the forthcoming campaign, having been a key component of the Saracens squads who lifted the 2017 and 2019 titles.

The 33-year-old South Africa prop made 29 appearances for the Gallagher Premiership club in four seasons from 2016/17, scoring four tries, before moving to Stade Français Paris last term, when he played four games for the French team in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Cell C Sharks have also signed an equally experienced if less garlanded prop in Coenie Oosthuizen, who has returned to South Africa as well after a stint abroad, with the 34-year-old having had four seasons with Sale Sharks.

The ex-Springboks forward featured 14 times for the Gallagher Premiership club in EPCR competitions in that time, scoring a solitary try in his maiden Heineken Champions Cup campaign in 2019/20.

Cell C Sharks’ other star signing is at the opposite end of the experience spectrum, with fly-half Siya Masuku aged only 27.

He was one of the reasons the Toyota Cheetahs qualified for the Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup in their maiden season, scoring 19 points through five penalties and two conversions, including all nine in their crucial Round 4 win against Section Paloise.

Ahead of the 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup, we’re picking out some of the biggest stars who joined new clubs in the summer and will be looking to make an impact when the competition kicks off in December.