The Melbourne Rebels have secured the services of Reds prop Laurie Weeks. The fledgling Super Rugby franchise have already signed England fly-half Danny Cipriani prior to their 2011 debut in the tournament.
Weeks, 23, made his Super 14 bow in 2009 and played all of the Reds' fixtures in his debut season. Rebels assistant coach Damien Hill knows plenty about Weeks, having coached him at Sydney University.
Former Wales skipper Gareth Thomas will make his rugby league bow for the Crusaders as they take on the Catalans Dragons in Wrexham on Friday. Thomas is slated for a place in the matchday squad and could start on the wing only weeks after a high-profile cross-code switch.
"He will feature in the 17, that's for sure," Crusaders coach Brian Noble said. "He's had a couple of good weeks' practice and he's fitted in with the group really well."
Saracens have agreed to release flanker Wikus van Heerden from his contract. The former Springbok was set to quit the Guinness Premiership side at the end of the season but will now immediately return to South Africa and join the struggling Lions for the remainder of the Super 14.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has omitted former Wallaby centre Morgan Turinui from their tour squad. The Reds travel to South Africa to face the Cheetahs, Sharks and Lions, with McKenzie opting to build strength-in-depth by leaving out Turinui, who has featured in all of their Super 14 games so far this season.
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