Big Emirates Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has rejected a proposed offer from French giants Toulouse to stay in Johannesburg, extending his contract until 2028.
There was a lot of speculation that Toulouse wanted to buy Ntlabakanye out of his contract, which would end next season, to add to their impressive arsenal of massive forward players.
Ntlabakanye, a former SA under-21 international, weighs in conservatively at 148kg, but is so mobile that he is known for the big carries and his movement around the field, prompting interest in the prop.
The Lions announced on Wednesday that he would stay put until 2028, which is a massive coup for the franchise.
“I’m here to stay! This means a lot to me,” Ntlabakanye said in a social media post by his team.
“Having been part of the Lions family since my school days, and now getting the opportunity to stay for a few more years is incredibly special to me.
“To all the Lions fans – I look forward to seeing a whole lot more of you at Emirates Airline Park.”