Former Saracens boss Brendan Venter has been appointed director of rugby at the Sharks.

Venter, who took up a consultancy role at Sarries after he moved back to South Africa in January 2011, will take up his new post from the start of the Absa Currie Cup at the end of this month.

Venter will join John Smit at the Sharks, who left the Men in Black at the end of last season to become chief exectuve at the South African outfit.

It is not yet clear how Venter's new position at the Sharks will affect his role at Saracens.

More to follow.