Guinness Premiership : Saracens Sign 2007 World Cup Winner

Wikus van Heerden, a new addition for Saracens

Saracens Sign 2007 World Cup Winner

16 May 2008, 2:32 pm

By Nick Betts

Saracens have signed 2007 Rugby World Cup winning back row forward Wikus van Heerden.

The 29-year-old Springbok international has signed a deal that will keep him at the North London club until 2011 and he will arrive in November at the conclusion of his Currie Cup duties with the Bulls in Pretoria.

Capped 14 times by South Africa, van Heerden played an integral role in the Springboks triumphover England in France last year and also joins Saracens as a Super 14 Champion having helped the Bulls to the title in 2007, where his powerful displays and leadership skills made him one of the region's outstanding performers.

Standing at 6ft 4in and weighing in at just under 17st, he can play across the back row and he joins Steve Borthwick and Michael Owen as international forwards who will be new additions to the Saracens squad for the 2008/09 season.

Saracens Director of Rugby Eddie Jones said: "Wikus is a world class performer who will add significant strength and depth to the Saracens squad. He's a player who is used to winning trophies and leads by example, both on and off the pitch, as he has proved at both international and Super 14 level.

"He also has the ability to play in a number of different positions and having worked with him during the World Cup, I know his high work-rate, knowledge, physical approach to the game and ability to lead from the front will make him a real asset to the Club."