RUGBY UNION: DIRECTOR of rugby Dai Young believes new recruit Juan De Jongh will help create plenty of pace on the attack after it was confirmed the 29-year-old will join Wasps from Stormers.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the South African international will join Wasps after completing the Super League season with the Stormers.
And his arrival at the Ricoh is expected to help Dai Young’s men go one better than this season when they fell agonisingly short of Aviva Premiership Final glory at Twickenham.
The 29-year-old centre has won 19 caps for the Springboks since making his try-scoring international debut against Wales in 2010.
De Jongh was also a member of the South African Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He has made 56 appearances for Western Province since his Provisional debut in 2009 and 94 Super Rugby appearances for the Stormers, scoring 75 points.
De Jongh has returned from injury this season to earn inclusion in the South Africa A squad to face the French Barbarians in June.
Dai Young said: “We are really pleased to have Juan coming on board next season.
“Juan and Gaby Lovobalavu’s arrival will add to the talented group of centres we have at the club.
“Juan is a good friend of Ashley Johnson whose opinion we respect highly.
“We feel he will fit into the squad really well next season, after we’ve all dusted ourselves down from the Premiership Final defeat and re-grouped to prepare to go again for the 2017/18 campaign.”
De Jongh added: “Having watched their last couple of games, I believe there is a lot to look forward to at the club.
“Hopefully I can add some experience and energy to an already well-established and talented side and hopefully we can start pushing towards European and Premiership success.”
