Die manne by Sale Sharks was uitgevriet vir oefen and defied Premiership Rugby directives on Monday by gathering their squad for secret training.
Met die hele se Bokke Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager, the Du Preez brothers (Robert, Jean-Luc and Dan), as well as Coenie Oosthuizen to name a few on their books, the Sharks were the only Premiership club planning to jump the gun and bring players back this week, against the advice of the Rugby Players' Association and league bosses.
And it's understood all UK-based squad members - aside from three whose partners are pregnant - did travel to the Sharks’ Carrington training base to start training on Monday.
Around 20 players arrived from 8am onwards in small staggered groups.