Cape Town - English Aviva Premiership outfit Leicester Tigers on Tuesday formally announced the signing of former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, who recently announced his retirement from international rugby.
De Villiers' move to the Welford Road-based club marks his second stint in UK rugby after he spent a season (2009-10) with Munster in Ireland.
It is very likely too, that the 34-year-old De Villiers will run out against Munster who are fixtured to play Tigers on December 12. A month ago, the 109-Test capped De Villiers suffered a fractured jaw during the RWC Pool B match against Samoa and returned to Cape Town for surgery.
He has since re-joined the Springbok squad in an advisory capacity at the World Cup. Richard Cockerill, Tigers' Director of Rugby, said the club stood to benefit greatly from De Villiers' experience.
“Jean brings invaluable experience to the squad. He is among the leading centres in the modern game and has played at the very highest level for a significant period of time,” said Cockerill.
“In recent seasons we have brought in players like Brad Thorn and Lote Tuqiri from successful environments in the southern hemisphere and they have made significant contributions. The signing of Jean de Villiers is another move in that style, and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to the Tigers and to him starting work with us on December 1.”
At Tigers, De Villiers will join fellow South African Sebastian de Chaves, the Johannesburg-born lock who was previously capped for the Golden Lions.
Previously, former Springboks Joel Stransky, Fritz van Heerden and Jaco van der Westhuyzen all had spells with Tigers. Springbok mentor Heyneke Meyer coached Tigers from July 2008 to January 2009 when he returned to South Africa. - ANA