A product of Paarl Boys' High School, Gianni Lombard came through the Boland Cavaliers and Western Province youth structures before earning national age-group recognition. He represented SA Schools in 2016 and made ten appearances for the Junior Springboks across 2017 and 2018, marking him as one of the country's most exciting young playmakers.
Lombard joined the Lions and made his senior debut in Super Rugby in 2018, going on to spend eight seasons in Johannesburg as a flyhalf, fullback and wing in Super Rugby, the URC and the Currie Cup, showing resilience to battle back from serious injuries along the way. In February 2026 the Sharks announced his signing, and he joined pre-season training in Durban in June 2026 ahead of the new campaign.
Prized for his versatility across the backline and his attacking spark, Lombard will look to make his Sharks debut and reignite his career in black and white in 2026/27.
