South African prop Wiehahn Herbst swapped Pretoria for Johannesburg after he joined the Emirates Lions from fellow South African Super Rugby side the Vodacom Bulls.
The Lions issued a statement on its website welcoming Herbst but did not give further details about his contract.
“And quite a big move it is for the 32-year old Klerksdorp-born prop who gave up a potential opportunity to play Test rugby for Ireland to return to South Africa when he joined the Bulls in 2019,” the statement said in part.
Herbst had spent a year-and-a-half at the Bulls where the Pretoria-based club said his experience “helped immensely on the field and also in the grooming of some of the younger front row crop.”
Herbst’s professional debut came in 2009 for South African side the Sharks where he stayed for five years before moving to Ireland to play for PRO14 side Ulster.
Herbst would go on to play 80 times for the Irish province, despite an injury-affected spell, and even qualify to play Test rugby for Ireland.
The 32-year-old, who has played for South Africa at schools level and under-19 level, expressed his gratitude to the Bulls for the opportunity to play for the club.
“My time at Loftus may have been short but it was packed with memories. Thank you for welcoming me into the #BullsFamily and allowing me the opportunity to play in the blue jersey.”
Herbst is the latest signing for the Lions, who were one of eight teams selected by SA Rugby to resume non-contact training from Monday.
