/ 18 October 2004

Springbok lock to play in UK

Harlequins have signed South Africa international lock Geo Cronje until the end of the season with the option to stay for another 12 months.

The 24-year-old, who is joining from the South African Blue Bulls side, has won three Springbok caps. He will join Harlequins at the end of the month.

He was at the centre of a row earlier this year after being accused of racism, but was cleared after a South African Rugby Football Union disciplinary investigation.

Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans said: ”We have been looking for a big, physical, ball-carrying lock forward for a while now and Geo fits into all of those categories.”

Quins are currently bottom of the English Premiership as they go in to the European Cup with an opening tie against Munster. — Sapa-AFP