Super Rugby
Western Force sign eighth South African
ESPN Staff
January 9, 2014

Western Force will have an even stronger South African flavour having signed their eighth player from the Rainbow Nation, with Brynard Stander joining for the next two seasons.

The Force have specifically targeted South African players during their recruitment drive, in a bid to move away from their reliance on Australia's east coast-based player pool, and the back-rower joins compatriots Wilhelm Steenkamp, Chris Heiberg, Marcel Brache, Dillyn Leyds, Dylan Sage and Francois van Wyk as South African newcomers to the club. Five-eighth Sias Ebersohn joined the Force a year ago.

Stander, 23, is an abrasive and physical back-rower who can play either side of the scrum or at No.8. He progressed through the Sharks' development program, representing Natal at under-19 and under-21 levels before spending the past two seasons in the coastal province's Vodacom and Currie Cup squads.

"Moving here from South Africa was a big decision, particularly moving away from my family," Stander said. "But it's been such a welcoming atmosphere."

© AAP

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