Cape Town - Welsh club Scarlets says the experience of Springbok prop Werner Kruger will prove vital to their cause.
The Scarlets on Wednesday announced the signing of the 31-year-old Kruger on a three-year deal.
He will link up with the Scarlets ahead of the 2016-17 season after completing his Super Rugby duties with the Bulls.
"We're pleased to announce that Werner will join us
ahead of the forthcoming 2016-17 season. He will further strengthen us at the
set piece and will bring vast experience having played both sides of the scrum,”
Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac told the club’s official website.
"To have a player of Werner's experience available for the whole season is something we haven't had for some time. His presence here at Parc y Scarlets will be a huge plus for the young tightheads developing through the region."
Scarlets general manager of Rugby, Jon Daniels, added: "Werner is a strong addition to the squad bringing a vast amount of experience from Super Rugby and the international stage.
“Having been informed that Rhodri Jones had made a decision to leave the Scarlets at the end of the season it was imperative that we recruited quality in that position to support the other tightheads in the squad."
Kruger became the first Bulls player to earn 100 caps in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup in August 2015 having made his provincial debut in 2007. He was part of the Bulls team that won both the 2009 and 2010 Super 14 finals.
The Bloemfontein-born tighthead represented South Africa Under 21s on six occasions in 2005-06 before going on to represent the Emerging Springboks (2009) and South Africa (2010 tour), winning four senior international caps in 2011-12.