SA contingent grows at Montpellier

Cape Town - Montpellier coach Jake White reportedly has his sights set on luring another South African to the French Top 14 club.

French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique is reporting that White is eager to sign ex-Sharks hooker Craig Burden.

This comes after the recent signing former Bulls and Cheetahs prop Bees Roux.

Roux's agent, James Adams, recently confirmed the signing of 33-year-old Roux from French club Oyonnax.

Burden, 30, currently plays for Toulon in France, but White is reportedly eager to lure him away.

Apart from White, there is already a large South African contingent at Montpellier.

Recent signings include Schalk van der Merwe (Lions, prop), Demetri Catrakilis (Stormers, flyhalf), Jacques du Plessis (Bulls, loose forward/lock), Cameron Wright (Sharks, scrumhalf/flyhalf), Wiaan Liebenberg (Bulls, loose forward) and Paul Willemse (Grenoble, lock).

Former Lions prop Jacobie Adriaanse will also join Montpellier for a shirt stint until after the Rugby World Cup (October 31).

Shaun Sowerby is White's assistant coach, while Pat Cilliers (prop) and Robert Ebersohn (centre) already ply their trade there.

Springbok centre Wynand Olivier also played there since 2013, but he was one of 19 players recently announced to leave the club.