Cape Town - Western Province are believed to be in the process of signing Pumas prop Vincent Koch in the next few weeks to bolster their tighthead stocks.
Koch is set to be evaluated as soon as next Sunday’s friendly match against Saracens at Allianz Park in north London.
WP are short on tightheads heading into next year as Pat Cilliers (Montpellier in France) and Brok Harris (Newport in Wales) moved to Europe after a successful Currie Cup campaign.
The Stormers only have Springbok Frans Malherbe as a recognised tighthead, and director of rugby Gert Smal said this week that he is trying to recruit new props.
The 24-year-old Koch was one of the stand-out performers for the Pumas in this year’s Currie Cup, where he made a successful shift from his regular loosehead prop position to the right-hand side of the scrum.
The 118kg front-rower attended Hugenote High in Wellington, the same school that WP captain Juan de Jongh, so if he does sign for Province, it would be a homecoming of sorts.
And it is believed that WP have already recruited giant Blue Bulls tighthead prop Wilco Louw for next season.
Louw, who weighs around 135kg and is also a former Boland schoolboy player (HTS Drostdy), was a key part of the SA Under-20 side in the World Championship in New Zealand this year.
Cape Times