South African winger Kobus van Wyk will have a chance to showcase his talent in England and Europe after he signed for Premiership Rugby side Leicester Tigers.
Van Wyk, who is currently playing for the Hurricanes in New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa, will join his new club at the end of the campaign.
The South African was a surprise signing for the Hurricanes at the start of this season as importation of foreign players by New Zealand clubs does not happen very often.
Leicester’s Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy welcomed the addition of van Wyk whom he described as a “proven finisher with an impressive resume in the southern hemisphere.”
“He is a big, strong and hard-working player with the qualities we are looking for on the pitch and an impressive man who shares the values we have here at the club and are integral to what we are building in Leicester,” Murphy said.
The 28-year-old said he was looking forward to a new challenge in a new environment and helping the team compete for honours.
“I haven’t played in Europe or the United Kingdom before so I am excited to meet the boys and get stuck in with them and for what is ahead for us in the future,” van Wyk said.
“They want to get Leicester back up, competing again to win trophies and to have the club in contention, which I want to be a part of and contribute with the boys,” he added.
Van Wyk previously played Western Province at Under-18, 19 and 21 levels and went on to represent the DHL Stormers in Super Rugby. He made more than 30 appearances in two seasons for the Stormers since his debut in 2014.
Van Wyk also joined French Top 14 club Bordeaux Begles for five months as a “medical joker”, a player signed by a professional club as an injury replacement.
He would return to South Africa joining the Sharks in 2017 and represent the Durban-based side in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup over the course of two seasons.
