Glasgow sign van der Merwe as Smith lifts lid on long-term pursuit

Glasgow Warriors have signed back-row Ruwald van der Merwe from South Africa’s Pumas ahead of the next season.

The 27-year-old will make the move after the 2026 Currie Cup campaign, subject to his visa.

While the van der Merwe name has a legendary status in both Glasgow and Scottish rugby, he is no relation to either Scotland and Edinburgh wing Duhan van der Merwe or former Glasgow wing DTH van der Merwe.

Glasgow boss Franco Smith revealed that the South African is a player they have been “keeping an eye on for a while,” praising his ball-carrying prowess.

This is something van der Merwe vowed to bring to Scotstoun ahead of next season, detailing his blend of “strength and speed”.

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“I’m incredibly excited and very grateful to have signed with Glasgow Warriors,” Van der Merwe said to glasgowwarriors.org.

“I’ve followed the club for a while, and I never imagined I’d get the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious setup. I’m looking forward to giving my best and contributing wherever I can.

“I spoke to Franco before signing, who told me a lot about the environment and his coaching approach. What stood out is how much he values the individual and focuses on developing areas of your game that need improvement.

“I also spoke to Henco Venter, who had nothing but great things to say about the club and life in Glasgow, which made the decision even more exciting for me and my family.

“Supporters can expect a physical edge from me. Coming from South Africa, that’s something I take pride in. I enjoy carrying hard, using a mix of strength and speed, getting my hands free for offloads, and contributing physically on defence and at set-piece time. I want to make an impact in all areas and add as much as I can to the team.”

Smith added: “Ruwald is a player that we have been keeping an eye on for a while, having identified him as someone that we believe can bring real value to what we are aiming to build here.

“He is a strong carrier who brings a real work ethic to everything he does, and he is excited to become a Glasgow Warrior from next season.

“We know that the Warrior Nation will welcome him with open arms, and we look forward to welcoming him to Scotstoun later this year.”