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Cape Town - Highly-rated South African Under-20 lock Ruan Botha will join Western Province from the Golden Lions at the end of the year.
This news was revealed by WP Rugby on Tuesday.
Botha, a member of the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship-winning Baby Boks team, stands 2,03m tall and weighs in at 113kg.
He made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions earlier this year and is also a member of their Currie Cup squad.
According to WP’s forwards coach, Matt Proudfoot, the Brakpan-born forward - who turns 21 in January next year - will add some good depth to the locking resources in the Cape.
"We noticed him and watched him in the SA Under-20 team where he played really well for the winning SA Under-20 side," said Proudfoot.
"We feel that he's a young guy with a bright future and with Andries still here for a few years he can learn all the intricacies of No 5 lock play from Andries and add to our lock factory in the process.
"With players like Steven (Kitshoff), Frans (Malherbe), Scarra (Ntubeni), Eben (Etzebeth), Siya (Kolisi) and Nizaam (Carr) all still eligible for the WP Under-21 team this season, and Ruan still U21 next year, it will allow us to build on the longevity of our young forward resources."
Botha, in turn, added: "I am delighted to be joining Western Province and look forward to this new chapter in my rugby career.
"I would like to thank the Lions Rugby Union for their unwavering support through the years and wish them all the best going forward."
This news was revealed by WP Rugby on Tuesday.
Botha, a member of the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship-winning Baby Boks team, stands 2,03m tall and weighs in at 113kg.
He made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions earlier this year and is also a member of their Currie Cup squad.
According to WP’s forwards coach, Matt Proudfoot, the Brakpan-born forward - who turns 21 in January next year - will add some good depth to the locking resources in the Cape.
"We noticed him and watched him in the SA Under-20 team where he played really well for the winning SA Under-20 side," said Proudfoot.
"We feel that he's a young guy with a bright future and with Andries still here for a few years he can learn all the intricacies of No 5 lock play from Andries and add to our lock factory in the process.
"With players like Steven (Kitshoff), Frans (Malherbe), Scarra (Ntubeni), Eben (Etzebeth), Siya (Kolisi) and Nizaam (Carr) all still eligible for the WP Under-21 team this season, and Ruan still U21 next year, it will allow us to build on the longevity of our young forward resources."
Botha, in turn, added: "I am delighted to be joining Western Province and look forward to this new chapter in my rugby career.
"I would like to thank the Lions Rugby Union for their unwavering support through the years and wish them all the best going forward."
