Exeter Chiefs newcomer Ruben van Heerden says he cannot wait to get stuck into life at Sandy Park after sealing his move from South African outfit, the Sharks.
The 24-year-old forward is the latest addition brought in by Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, who is looking to bolster his options up front following the departures of fellow locks Jonny Hill, Sean Lonsdale and Sam Skinner.
Standing at 6ft 6in and topping the scales at over 18 stone, van Heerden will offer a sizeable presence to the Chiefs pack. Having started his career with the Bulls back in 2013, the Alberton-born ace moved to the Sharks in 2018, where he has since established himself as a key performer for the club.
“I’m so excited about coming to the Chiefs,” said van Heerden. “I’ve followed them for some time and you can see they are such a good team, packed full of quality players and who have a game to really challenge the opposition.
“For me, it’s like a dream come true to join a club like this. The Premiership is right up there as one of the best, if not the best, competitions there are to play in. Every week is a challenge, the teams are so strong, so it’s going to be a great battle for myself.”
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#1. Jack Dunne from Leinster
At the end of his current deal in Leinster blue, Dunne will link up with the Exeter Chiefs as he looks to make the next step of his career in professional rugby.
Just under 12 months ago, the lock came out as bisexual, earning widespread support for his courageous step in professional rugby.