Viljoen joins mass exodus, signs for Leicester Tigers

According to the Premiership Rugby website, Viljoen has represented his country at schoolboy and Under-20s level and made 28 appearances for the Stormers since his debut in 2017.

Viljoen made his Currie Cup debut for the Western Province in 2014 and was selected in the Springboks Under-20s squad for the Junior World Championship the following year, in which he played a starring role on the way to South Africa’s third-place finish in the tournament.

Speaking about Viljoen’s addition to his squad, Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “EW is a versatile, skilful and exciting player to have as part of our group.

“He has an impressive resumé for a young man and, at only 24, it’s encouraging to know he still has plenty of improvement left in him.

“EW adds a lot to our outside-back stocks and provides valuable depth in the squad.”

Viljoen said: “The chance to represent a club like Leicester Tigers is one I could not pass up and I’m very excited about the challenge of playing in Premiership rugby.

“I want to play my role and make a contribution to getting Tigers back to where a club of their history and tradition belongs, which I believe Geordan Murphy is building towards.

“It’s an exciting chance to experience northern-hemisphere rugby and I can’t think of a better place to be able to do that than Welford Road.”

Viljoen is Tigers’ 11th new signing of the summer and joins Jaco Taute, Noel Reid, Johnny McPhillips and Joe Thomas as additions to the backline stocks at the club.

Viljoen will also join Bulls loose forward Hanro Liebenberg at the club.