Quins beef up pack with South African second row Herbst
DEFENDING champions Harlequins have signed South African second row Irne Herbst from Benetton for next season.
The 29-year-old South African has spent the last five years with the United Rugby Championship club.
He emerged as a clear talent during his time in the age-grade programmes in South Africa, appearing for the National Schools and U20s during his time with the Blue Bulls.
The 6ft 6in, 121kg lock kicked off his senior rugby career with the Bulls in the Provincial Cup and Currie Cup competitions before graduating to Super Rugby with the Southern Kings in 2017 prior to moving to Italy to join Benetton.
“To join such a prestigious team within English rugby and the current Premiership champions is a fantastic opportunity,” he said.
Quins are third in the Premiership and need one win from their final two games, against Gloucester or Exeter, to guarantee a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
Elsewhere, Sale confirmed that Springbok centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg will leave the club to join the Durbanbased Sharks. The 27-year-old, who won one Boks cap in 2016, joined Sale in 2017 having been a fan favourite at the Lions during their Super Rugby dominance that saw them contest three Super Rugby finals in a row.
Bristol prop John Afoa, right, has signed a twoyear deal with French ProD2 side RC Vannes.
Former All Black Afoa, 38, has been named in the Premiership team of the season three times since joining Bristol in 2018 and Bears DoR Pat Lam said he is one of the Premiership’s greats.
“Jonny leaves a legacy as one of the greatest ever tightheads to play in the Premiership,” said Lam. “To perform consistently at the top for over 20 years is a testament to his dedication, commitment and love of our game.”
Also off to France is Exeter prop Sam Nixon, who will be leaving at the end of the season to join Grenoble.
The 25-year-old moved to the Chiefs ahead of the 2021/22 season from Bayonne and went on to make ten appearances for the club.
Nixon said: “The club, the people and the supporters have been fantastic from day one and even though it will only have been a short stay, it’s been an incredible experience for me.”
Exeter are also losing fly-half Jack Walsh, who is joining the Ospreys. The America-born 22-year-old, who has represented Australia at sevens and featured for their U18s team, has penned a two
year contract with the Welsh region and will compete with Stephen Myler for the 10 shirt after the 37year-old signed a one-year contract extension.
Also in Wales, the Dragons announced the signing and return of full-back/flyhalf Angus O’Brien, below, from Scarlets ahead of the 2022/23 for next eason.
O’Brien came through the Dragons Academy system and went on to make 70 appearances, scoring
305 points for the region, before leaving to join the Scarlets in 2018. O'Brien joins JJ Hanrahan, Sio Tomkinson, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Max Clark, George Nott and Sean Lonsdale as new recruits ahead of next season. Meanwhile in the Championship, Cornish Pirates have signed Welsh hooker Morgan Nelson. Nelson, 22, has played age grade rugby for Wales and has recently been part of the BUCS team at Cardiff Met. He has also in the past played for both Worcester and Gloucester Academy, as well as the Hartpury College AASE squad.
Pirates centre Rory Parata and scrum-half Ruaridh Dawson have signed one-year contract exetensions with the club.
Doncaster back rower Guido Volpi is joining Zebre. Volpi said: “I’ve had the best time ever at Doncaster Knights. I’ve enjoyed every second of my time here, both on and off the pitch. It is the first time in a long time where I wake up every morning looking forward to going to work.”