Bulls' Ruan Steenkamp agrees short-term PRO14 deal
Edinburgh have secured the signing of South African back row Ruan Steenkamp on a short-term deal from the Bulls Super Rugby side.
The 26-year-old former South African under-20 captain – who made 10 appearances in this season’s Super Rugby competition – joins the club subject to a medical and will provide cover during the World Cup in Japan.
Steenkamp, who has played both flanker and No8, was a key player as the Bulls this season reached the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since 2013.
On joining Edinburgh, Steenkamp, said: “I’m really honoured to join and can’t wait to link up with my new teammates. I know a lot about the club having spoken to the South African boys in Scotland.
“I’m hugely privileged to have been given the chance to represent such a historic side. This will be my first time travelling to Scotland, so I can’t wait to make the most of this opportunity while sampling a new and exciting rugby culture.”
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Coach Richard Cockerill added: “Ruan is a hard running and abrasive back row player that plays with a real edge. He has all the qualities that you look for in a flanker while his physicality brings a different dynamic to our pack. We’re really happy to have him on board.
“We will obviously be short-handed in the back row in the early stages of the season due to World Cup selection, so to have a player of Ruan’s quality adding depth to the squad is a real coup for the club.
'You get the sense Gregor Townsend delights in slinging curveballs and catching onlookers and adversaries alike on the hop’
– @JLyall93 on the difficult task of choosing the @Scotlandteam squad for @rugbyworldcup https://t.co/VkTQJnqjq0— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 4, 2019
“He has shown in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup that he has the ability to turn a match in your favour – whether that is through his carrying or tenacity in defence – so we can’t wait to see what he’ll bring to this club.”
Edinburgh had been in line to snap up Kwagga Smith on a short-term deal but his inclusion by the Springboks in their World Cup squad scuppered that approach.
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I'm very disappointed that Tommy Freeman hasn't been picked, but the Smith-Farrell-Marchant combo looks extremely exciting Surprised to see Chessum and Ludlam picked in what could be a fairly light forward pack, but I'll trust Borthwick on those ones
Go to commentsDuring ten years of rugby I was concussed twice. Both times was when my head made contact with my opponent's hip bone as he fell on my head. Rugby has an integral element of competing for space through physical domination. If you have to drive through the tackle with your head down, that puts the tackler at a serious risk. it's might work for 60 kg kids but not in the fury of the clash between 100kg athletes. Even if this insane law change does get any traction which I seriously doubt, this is going to end up in classical case of unintended consequences.
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