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Cape Town - Springbok flank Francois Louw has signed a deal to move to Bath Rugby for the 2011/12 season, according to The Bath Chronicle.
Louw, 25, will replace fellow Springbok and current Bath captain Luke Watson who is returning to South Africa to join up with the Southern Kings at the end of the season.
It is understood that Louw's deal will keep him at The Rec until at least 2013.
While neither Bath Rugby nor Louw's current Vodacom Super Rugby side, the Stormers, have confirmed the move, sources have confirmed it is a done deal.
"Francois Louw has signed for Bath," said a contact close to both northern and southern hemisphere rugby. He will definitely be going to Bath."
According to Die Burger's Stephen Nell, the Western Province Rugby Union didn't wish to reveal too much about the situation.
“Louw’s contract expires on October 31, 2011. WP Rugby will only comment on players’ contracts and movements after the completion of the Super Rugby competition,” said Gavin Lewis, head of marketing at the union.
Louw’s decision comes as a surprise. Being the grandson of former WP president, Jan Pickard, he has strong family bonds with the union.
Louw has seven Test caps to his name since making his debut against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in June 2010.
Louw will start for the Stormers in their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Teams:
Sharks:
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 John Smit, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo
Stormers:
15. Gio Aplon, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean De Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermuelen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Rynhardt Elstadt, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Substitutes: 16. Ethienne Reynecke, 17. CJ Van Der Linde, 18. De Kock Steenkamp, 19. Nick Koster, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Gary Van Aswegen, 22. Juan De Jongh
Louw, 25, will replace fellow Springbok and current Bath captain Luke Watson who is returning to South Africa to join up with the Southern Kings at the end of the season.
It is understood that Louw's deal will keep him at The Rec until at least 2013.
While neither Bath Rugby nor Louw's current Vodacom Super Rugby side, the Stormers, have confirmed the move, sources have confirmed it is a done deal.
"Francois Louw has signed for Bath," said a contact close to both northern and southern hemisphere rugby. He will definitely be going to Bath."
According to Die Burger's Stephen Nell, the Western Province Rugby Union didn't wish to reveal too much about the situation.
“Louw’s contract expires on October 31, 2011. WP Rugby will only comment on players’ contracts and movements after the completion of the Super Rugby competition,” said Gavin Lewis, head of marketing at the union.
Louw’s decision comes as a surprise. Being the grandson of former WP president, Jan Pickard, he has strong family bonds with the union.
Louw has seven Test caps to his name since making his debut against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in June 2010.
Louw will start for the Stormers in their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Teams:
Sharks:
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 John Smit, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo
Stormers:
15. Gio Aplon, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean De Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermuelen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Rynhardt Elstadt, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Substitutes: 16. Ethienne Reynecke, 17. CJ Van Der Linde, 18. De Kock Steenkamp, 19. Nick Koster, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Gary Van Aswegen, 22. Juan De Jongh
