South African 'project player' signs for English club
TRANSFER NEWS: Another one of Jimmy Stonehouse’s stalwarts will be heading north.
South African tighthead Ruan ‘Sampie’ Swiegers became the second Pumas player to sign for a UK club this week.
The 27-year-old will join Harlequins ahead of the 2026/27 season. The news came after it was revealed that loose forward Ruwald van der Merwe will join Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors.
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🗣️ Sampie’s first words as a Harlequin:#COYQ pic.twitter.com/jALZ0jHij1
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) March 31, 2026
“I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to sign with Harlequins,” said Swiegers.
“This is a dream come true for me. I’ve worked hard for many years, often taking the long road, and there were times where things weren’t certain. But I never stopped believing or putting in the work.
“Playing rugby at the highest level has always been my goal, and to now have that opportunity with a club like Harlequins is something I don’t take for granted.
“I look forward to applying my skills to support the team’s success and be a great teammate.
“I’m thankful to everyone who supported me along the way – my wife, my parents, my family, coaches, and teammates – for believing in me and helping me get to this point. Without these people and support system I had along the way, nothing would’ve been possible.
“Thank you for the opportunity. Like my father always says, ‘it’s harder to stay there than to get there’ – the hard work starts now!”
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Building for the future 🧱#COYQ pic.twitter.com/yLNReP6ixt
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) March 31, 2026
Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore added: “Sampie’s got a good age profile and is moving into his peak years as a tighthead.
“He starts the puzzle of getting our tight five to what we want to look like over the next 12 months – certainly getting him and James Dun in on that tighthead side of the scrum is a positive.
“He’s a project player for us and he knows he’s got some hard work to get him where we want him to be, but we’re excited to have him in our environment. He’s a big body, loves contact and the set-piece, so that bodes well for us.
“We’ve got some experience in the front row as well as Adam Jones and Matt Ferguson in the building, so we’re confident he’ll receive the quality coaching required for his development.”
Swiegers began his playing career at North West University, where he represented the institution in the Varsity Cup from 2020 to 2023 – captaining the side for two of those seasons. His time at North West University culminated in a Varsity Cup triumph in 2023.
At provincial level, Swiegers represented Leopards Rugby Union from 2021 to 2023, winning the Currie Cup First Division Championship in his debut season, before earning a move to the Pumas ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
His time in Nelspruit has been fruitful and has seen his profile rise within South Africa. In 2024, he was part of the Pumas side that claimed the SA Cup, a triumph that earned him an invitation to a Springbok Alignment Camp – recognition of his growing standing within the wider national set-up.
The following season brought further individual recognition when he was named the Pumas’ Currie Cup Forward of the Year, and in 2026, he has been entrusted with the captaincy for their SA Cup campaign.
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