Exeter Chiefs to bolster problem position with South African signing

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter is set to bolster his squad after agreeing to sign André Goedhals from Currie Cup outfit the Pumas to strengthen his injury-hit second row.

The second row has been a problem area for Baxter, with Italian star Andrea Zambonin on the sidelines after a shoulder operation. Although he is closing in on a return to action, he could still be weeks away, as is Lewis Pearson.

But he is looking 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 he finished his schooling at the renowned Oakdale Agricultural High School.

He was highly rated as a schoolboy and won Springbok under-20 honours, but moved to the Pumas after fading and failing to live up to his early promise in the highly competitive Stormers setup.

Goedhals becomes the third member of the Pumas side to move to the Gallagher PREM this summer after lock JJ Scheepers joined Sale Sharks, and prop Sampie Swiegers was snapped up by Harlequins.

Another Pumas ace, flanker Ruwald van der Merwe, has been taken to Scotland by Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith, and it continues Baxter’s shopping spree after last week announcing the signing of Carwyn Tuipulotu from Pau under the noses of Bristol Bears.

He hopes to have better luck with Goedhals than with Khwezi Mona, who played only 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 the Chiefs in this campaign despite being in full training.

The Chiefs, who won their first game of the season against 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.