SOUTH Africa’s rugby talent is leaking through to Wellington, New Zealand with Stormers prop Morne van der Merwe staking a claim to play in the National Provincial Championships. Wellington already have eight props in their ranks, including England prop Kevin Yates, Hurricane Mike Edwards, Samoa test players Kepi Faivaii, Kas Lealamanua and Malaga Leota, ex-Chief Murray Driver, Otago’s Eugene Morgan, and John Pale, so Van der Merwe faces stiff competition. The 27-year-old, who weighs 125kg and plays both loose and tighthead will have to start out playing club rugby, possibly for Johnsonville, and if he impresses Wellington coaches Dave Rennie and Graham Mourie, may be picked for the NPC squad.