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Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter is set to strengthen his squad after agreeing to sign André Goedhals from Currie Cup outfit the Cougars to bolster his injury-plagued second line.
The second row has been a problem area for Baxter, with Italian star Andrea Zambonin on the sidelines after shoulder surgery. Although he is closing in on a return to action, he could still be a few weeks away, as is Lewis Pearson.
But he wants to solve his problem by landing Goedhals, who holds a British passport after being born in Devon while his parents lived and worked in England, making him English-qualified.
Goedhals, 21, returned to South Africa when his family settled in Riversdale, a farming community in the Western Cape, before completing his education at the renowned Oakdale Agricultural High School.
He was highly rated as a schoolboy and won Springbok under-20 honors, but moved to the Pumas after fading and failing to live up to his early promise in the top flight Stormers setup.
Goedhals becomes the third Pumas member to join Gallagher PREM this summer after JJ Scheepers joined Sale Sharks and prop Sampie Swiegers pounced on Harlequins.
Another Pumas ace, winger Ruwald van der Merwe, was taken away Scotland by Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith, and continues Baxter’s shopping spree after last week announcing the signing of Carwyn Tuipulotu from Pau under the nose Bristol Bears.
He hopes to have better luck with Goedhals than Khwezi Mona, who played just nine games before being released in the summer, along with Kwenzo Blose, who made 24 appearances in two seasons at Sandy Park.
Former Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba, who moved to Devon at the start of last season, is yet to appear for Bosses in this campaign despite being in full training.
The Chiefs, who won their first game of the season Newcastle Red Bulls on Sunday, will also welcome All Black Dallas McLeod from Canterbury at the end of the month after helping them reach the NPC semi-finals, where he scored seven tries in nine games.
