Another Cheetahs goes north

 

Van der Westhuizen joins Cheetahs teammate WP Nel, who is also joining Edinburgh, while loose forward Ahsley Johnson has signed for London Wasps.

 

The 26-year-old's second row partner George Earle is also heading north and will join the Scarlets in Wales next season, although he is officially a Griquas player and is only with the Cheetahs for the Super Rugby competition.

 

Van der Westhuizen has signed a two-year deal with Edinburgh and will compete with Sean Cox, Grant Gilchrist and Steven Turnbull for a place in the second row next season.

 

The tall lock will only arrive in Edinburgh in October after fulfilling his Currie Cup commitments with the Cheetahs, while he also still needs to be granted a visa.

 

"I want to test myself against the top players in Europe so when I found out Edinburgh were looking for a player with my skill-set, I was desperate to sign," he 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.

 

"I run the set-piece for the Cheetahs but, when the ball's in play, I like to be in the centre of the park getting stuck into the physical side of the game and hitting rucks.

 

"I'm really looking forward to joining the club. They've some real talent joining the squad and some quality Scottish players re-signed too so I think it's the ideal time to be part of a really exciting squad."

 

Other tan Van der Westhuizen and Nel the club have also signed Gerogian international Dimitri Basilaia, Welsh internationals Richie Rees and John Yapp and  English Premiership pair Greig Tonks and Michael Penn.