Leicester Tigers sign South African tighthead prop

Leicester Tigers have confirmed the signing of South African front-rower Luan de Bruin for the 2020/21 season.

The 27-year-old will join Tigers from the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, where de Bruin has made more than 50 appearances since his senior debut during the 2014 Super Rugby season. Born in Pretoria, de Bruin played youth rugby for the Blue Bulls and represented South Africa at Under-18 level.

Ahead of the 2012 domestic season, he moved to the Free State and appeared for the provincial Under-19 side and in 2013 represented UFS Shimlas in the Varsity Cup. He was also a member of South Africa’s Under-20s squad at the Junior World Championship.

Capable of playing at loosehead or tighthead, de Bruin was a member of the Green Squad in the recent internal fixture for the World Champion Springboks.

Speaking about the addition of the front-rower, Tigers Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy said: “Luan is an experienced, versatile front-rower who will provide us with valuable depth on both sides of the scrum.

“We are looking forward to welcoming him to Leicester ahead of the new season and strengthening the competition for places up front in the scrum with his addition to the Tigers squad.”

Speaking from South Africa, de Bruin said the opportunity to contribute to Tigers was exciting.

“It is a massive opportunity and a massive learning curve as well,” added de Bruin.

“You never stop learning and growing as a player, especially as a front rower, you’re never great and always must keep learning and adapting.

“The opportunity came to play in Leicester and I think it’s a fantastic, exciting opportunity to be part of a top club.

“I know they’re not top of the log at the moment and in a rebuilding phase, looking to get back to the top.”

de Bruin joins fellow South African Jasper Wiese, Argentine internationals Matias Moroni and Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, as well as England international Richard Wigglesworth as new additions to the Tigers squad for the 2020/21 season.

The front-rower will undertake a two-week quarantine period on arrival in the UK before joining the training programme in Leicester alongside his new team-mates.

The Tigers also confirmed on Wednesday that David Williams will remain on loan at Leicester Tigers from Nottingham Rugby for the 2020/21 season. The wing joined Tigers on loan from the Championship club ahead of the resumption of the 2019/20 campaign and made four senior appearances.

A Tigers Academy graduate in 2014, Williams made his senior club debut away to Exeter Chiefs in August and scored his first senior try for the club during the final weeks of the campaign.