The NSW Waratahs have pulled off a coup by signing rugged Springboks forward Jacques Potgieter for the next two Super Rugby seasons.
The 27-year-old Potgieter played his last game for the Pretoria-based Bulls in the recent Super Rugby semi-final loss to the Brumbies and he'll complete a season in the Japanese Top League before joining the Waratahs to start 2014 Super Rugby competition.
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said Potgieter filled all the requirements to add more steel to his pack.
"In building our 2014 squad I wanted to profile one of our locks as a no-nonsense, hard and strong ball carrier and tackler, experienced and hungry to add these qualities to our squad," said Cheika.
"Jacques fits this profile perfectly and his experience in the back row also gives us extra quality in our forward depth.
"We have some excellent locks and back rows in our squad with different profiles and adding a quality recruit like Jacques will definitely make for more competition, which should make us more competitive against our opponents."
Potgieter relished the chance for an Australian experience.
"I'm really looking forward to joining the Waratahs for Super Rugby and spending time in a great city like Sydney, he said.
"The Waratahs play a style of rugby that I really enjoy and I'm looking forward to working with Michael Cheika."
