Chiefs eye up another South African

ROB Baxter looks set to turn to South Africa again to bolster the club’s resources in the Exeter Chiefs pack next season.

The Devon side are set to add 24-year-old lock Ruben van Heerden according to the latest reports, having confirmed the signing of South African backrower Aidon Davis last month.

Van Heerden currently plays for South African side the Cell C Sharks and according to The Rugby Paper will come in with Chiefs having already confirmed the departure of three locks in England international Jonny Hill to Sale Sharks, Scotland’s Sam Skinner to Edinburgh and Sean Lonsdale to the Dragons.

Baxter has already moved to fill one of his vacant lock slots with the signing of Leinster forward Jack Dunne, who will arrive in the summer.

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter is also hoping to promote from within with the likes of Wales international Christ Tshiunza, 20, and 19-year-old Wales U20 lock Dafydd Jenkins, both highly thought of and coming through the club’s impressive academy system.

They have been pushing for regular places in Exeter’s senior squad alongside Scotland star Jonny Gray, Will Witty and Don Armand.

Van Heerden, who stands at 6ft 7in tall and weighs in at 18 and half stone, is a former South African Schools and U20s international having come through the system at the Blue Bulls before signing a three-year deal at the Sharks in 2019.

Van Heerden has already tussled with some of his new team mates, including hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, when he ran out for the Sharks against the British and Irish Lions last summer.

Chiefs have had great success in bringing South Africans to the club in recent years with the likes of Jacques Vermeulen and Jannes Kirsten now integral players at Sandy Park.