Gloucester swoop for Bezuidenhout

Gloucester have signed South Africa’s World Cup prop Christo Bezuidenhout for next season.

The loosehead was a key member of the Springbok World Cup squad in Australia last autumn and has been an ever-present in the Bulls’ Super 12 campaign this year.

Director of rugby Nigel Melville told the club’s website, www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com: “Christo is a great signing for the club. He is an international-class loosehead prop.”

He added: “With Trevor Woodman moving on we were looking for an experienced top-quality loosehead prop who would be available throughout the season.

“Christo is a big guy and has the required experience for the Zurich Premiership.”

Bezuidenhout said: “I’m really keen to meet up with everyone at Gloucester and start playing in the Zurich Premiership. The English league is a very tough competition, and the training regimes and set-ups are very similar to the Super 12.”