Steven Sykes has left Heineken Cup champions Leinster and is on his way back to Durban after signing a one-year deal with his old team the Sharks ahead of the new Super Rugby season.

Sykes left the Sharks at the end of the 2011 Super Rugby campaign which ended in defeat against the Crusaders in their play-off game in Nelson, but he is back already after being released from his contract with Leinster.

The hard-working lock will return to training with the squad next week in what will be a massive relief to some supporters who may have been concerned at the lack of quality depth in the Sharks second row.

Sykes said that although he had enjoyed his short stay in Ireland he had always planned to come back to Durban and added that he was delighted that it happened sooner rather than later.

He told sharksworld.co.za: "When I got the opportunity to come and play for Leinster, I really jumped at it and it's been great to experience different cultures and rugby in all sort of different conditions. I always knew that I'd want to come back to the Sharks, of course, but I didn't realise that I'd miss them quite so badly.

"When the chance came to join them again, I grabbed it with both hands and just can't wait to get back there and contribute. I can't wait to pull on the black and white jersey again and experience that special vibe at Kings Park. There's no other place like it," he enthused.

Sykes will be competing with Alistair Hargreaves and Ross Skeate for a place in the starting line-up along with promising young players such as Anton Bresler and Jandre Marais, and despite being such a consistent performer for the coastal outfit in recent years he refuses to take anything for granted and is ready to prove himself worthy of selection with some hard work.

"I've been speaking to Plum and he tells me what an exciting squad they've got this year and how hard everyone is working.

"There are some amazing young locks in Anton Bresler and Jandre Marais, along with the older hands like Alistair Hargreaves and Ross Skeate – it's going to be great playing with those guys and I know how hard it's going to be competing with them for selection," said Sykes.