South Africa flanker Joe Van Niekerk signed a three-year contract with English rugby club Northampton on Monday.
Van Niekerk, capped 46 times by the Springboks since 2001, will start with Northampton depending on next month’s announcement of South Africa’s World Cup squad.
He hasn’t played for South Africa since last year’s Tri-Nations after suffering a back injury, then a neck injury which kept him out of the November tour of Europe.
The 27-year-old has been with the Cape-Town based Stormers in the Super 14 since 2005.
Northampton hope Van Niekerk will help it return to the English Premiership after relegation this season.
Meanwhile, Worcester announced it signed All Blacks winger Rico Gear for three years.
Gear was in South Africa with New Zealand for the Tri-Nations, and scored his 10th try in 18 Tests on Saturday as a replacement against Canada.
Gear will join fellow All Black Greg Rawlinson at the club next season, along with former New Zealand centre Sam Tuitupou. – Sapa-AP