Sale Sharks have brought in Argentina hooker Agustin Creevy to replace Akker van der Merwe, who has returned to South Africa.
Creevy, 38, joins after three years with London Irish, following their Premiership suspension.
South Africa international Van der Merwe, 32, who arrived in 2019 from Sharks, played 70 times for Sale and scored 31 tries.
But he agreed an early release from his contract to head home.
Van der Merwe, the older brother of Scotland winger Duhan, played his last game for Sale in the Premiership final defeat by Saracens at Twickenham last month.
“We’re gutted to be losing him...