Isak van der Westhuizen signs for Edinburgh – Rugby News Update
Isak van der Westhuizen, the Cheetahs and former Free State lock is joining Edinburgh ahead of the new season after penning a two-year deal with the club. He swaps from the Super Rugby League to the RaboDirect PRO12.
Westhuizen started his career with Free State before moving to the Cheetahs. He is excited at joining the Scotland based club, and is looking forward to testing himself in a new league.
"I want to test myself against the top players in Europe so when I found out Edinburgh Rugby were looking for a player with my skill-set, I was desperate to sign," van der Westhuizen said. "I like the pace the boys play with, it's very similar to a Super
Rugby style which gives me a lot of confidence that I'll fit in well.”
Westhuizen has been an instrumental player for the Cheetahs this year, starting every game and will come to his new home after he competes in the Currie Cup, South Africa’s premier domestic rugby union competition. He will be joining the likes of Sean Cox,
Grant Gilchrist and Steven Turnbull.
Michael Bradley, the head coach has welcomed the new signing and wants to build upon the success of this season, after they reached the semi-final of the Heineken Cup.
"Over the course of this season we have been putting the right building blocks in place to tackle what is arguably the most eagerly anticipated season in the club's history," Bradley said.
Bradley is looking to build upon the success of last season, and he has laid down the expectations for his players. The players know exactly what is expected of them, and he wants to build a squad that can compete for honours on the domestic, as well as
European front.
Speaking about his playing style and preference for position, the lock said that he likes to run the set-pieces, and really enjoys the physical side of the game. Westhuizen joins the likes of WP Nel, Ben Atiga, John Yapp and Richie Rees as the new signings.
The lock does not have an international test cap to his name and a change of league can certainly bring that for him.
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