Cape Town - The Sharks appear intent on putting a miserable 2015 Super Rugby season behind them by buying their way to victory.
On Saturday the Sharks confirmed the signing of loose forward Philip van der Walt who will join up with the side for the upcoming Currie Cup competition which kicks off in early August.
The 25-year-old joined French Pro D2 club Biarritz in 2014, but has returned to South Africa, having played his senior rugby for Free State in the Currie Cup and the Cheetahs in Super Rugby between 2010 and 2014.
Standing 1.93m tall and weighing 110kg, he will bolster the Sharks who will be missing a number of players in this Rugby World Cup year.
The Sharks made no mention on their website whether Van der Walt will be available for next year's Super Rugby tournament.
The signing will no doubt infuriate those, including former skipper Gary Teichmann, who believe the union should invest in the youth rather than look abroad.
The signing also directly contradicts what Sharks CEO John Smit promised in an open letter to fans earlier in the year.
The
Sharks can confirm the signing of loose-forward Philip van der Walt who
will join up with the side for the upcoming Absa Currie Cup competition
which kicks off in early August.
The 25 year old joined French Pro D2 club Biarritz in 2014 but has returned to South Africa, having played his senior rugby for Free State in the Currie Cup and the Cheetahs in Vodacom Super Rugby between 2010 and 2014.
Standing 1.93m tall and weighing 110kg, he will bolster the Cell C Sharks who will be missing a number of players in this Rugby World Cup year.
- See more at: http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2842744#sthash.OoRjKpUq.dpufProud to announce our latest signing! Welcome to the family Philip! #sharksforever #blackandwhite pic.twitter.com/6fx4DROPn0
— The Sharks (@TheSharksZA) June 6, 2015