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Cape Town - Western Province have confirmed the signing of tighthead prop Vincent Koch from the Pumas as they prepare for the 2015 season.
Koch, 24, will add significant front row depth following the overseas departures of Pat Cilliers and Brok Harris, both members of the Currie Cup-winning Western Province squad.
The strongly-built prop can play on both sides of the scrum, but he starred at tighthead prop for the Pumas during the 2014 Currie Cup - more than playing his part in one of the tournament’s most powerful and consistent packs.
Koch, a stalwart for the Blue Bulls at Under-19 and Under-21 level, weighs 118kg and stands 1.85m tall and will push for Stormers selection in Super Rugby, along with SA Under-20 star Wilco Louw, who last week was also announced as a new signing, and Springbok Frans Malherbe.
“Tighthead prop is a crucial position in rugby and we’ve acted quickly to identify and sign quality players to step in and provide valuable depth in (and to compete for) the No 3 jersey,” WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal told the WP Rugby website.
“Frans Malherbe is a Springbok incumbent, were it not for his injury he would be on tour with the national squad at present, so we are satisfied that we have three quality players at our disposal (in Frans, Vincent and Wilco) ahead of next year’s Super Rugby tournament.”
Koch arrived in Cape Town on Monday and will form part of the Western Province squad that will travel to London later this week to take on Saracens on Sunday.
Western Province squad: Manuel Carizza, Demetri Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman, Juan de Jongh (captain), Rynhardt Elstadt, Gerbrandt Grobler, Nic Groom, Pat Howard, Oli Kebble, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Jaco Taute, Michael van der Spuy, Jurie van Vuuren, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, EW Viljoen
Koch, 24, will add significant front row depth following the overseas departures of Pat Cilliers and Brok Harris, both members of the Currie Cup-winning Western Province squad.
The strongly-built prop can play on both sides of the scrum, but he starred at tighthead prop for the Pumas during the 2014 Currie Cup - more than playing his part in one of the tournament’s most powerful and consistent packs.
Koch, a stalwart for the Blue Bulls at Under-19 and Under-21 level, weighs 118kg and stands 1.85m tall and will push for Stormers selection in Super Rugby, along with SA Under-20 star Wilco Louw, who last week was also announced as a new signing, and Springbok Frans Malherbe.
“Tighthead prop is a crucial position in rugby and we’ve acted quickly to identify and sign quality players to step in and provide valuable depth in (and to compete for) the No 3 jersey,” WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal told the WP Rugby website.
“Frans Malherbe is a Springbok incumbent, were it not for his injury he would be on tour with the national squad at present, so we are satisfied that we have three quality players at our disposal (in Frans, Vincent and Wilco) ahead of next year’s Super Rugby tournament.”
Koch arrived in Cape Town on Monday and will form part of the Western Province squad that will travel to London later this week to take on Saracens on Sunday.
Western Province squad: Manuel Carizza, Demetri Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman, Juan de Jongh (captain), Rynhardt Elstadt, Gerbrandt Grobler, Nic Groom, Pat Howard, Oli Kebble, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Jaco Taute, Michael van der Spuy, Jurie van Vuuren, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, EW Viljoen
