Lowrens joins Montpellier as stand-in for Bok
NEWS: Montpellier has contracted South African scrumhalf Ryan Lowrens following the demise of the Rebels at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Lowrens is their 15th new signing and was contracted as cover for fellow South African Cobus Reinach who is away at the Rugby Championship until the end of next month.
Reinach, who was part of the Springbok side that beat Australia in the Rugby Championship in Brisbane last weekend, is expected to be away for Tests against Scotland, England, and Wales in November.
The Rebels’ Super Rugby campaign ended with a quarterfinal defeat against the Hurricanes in early June.
Johannesburg-born Louwrens spent three years in Perth, where he moved with his parents and played for the Western Force as a teenager. He also spent three seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Liners.
He previously represented the Falcons in the Craven Week and the Under-19 Currie Cup when he returned to South Africa to complete his schooling but he was banned for two years for using anabolic steroids as a teenager.
Back in Australia the Force gave him a contract despite the sanction.
The scrumhalf made 37 appearances in two spells with the Rebels on either side of a stint in the United States with the Austin Gilgronis and made 14 appearances last season, scoring three tries.
Montpellier also raked in utility back Josh Moorby, who played two tests for the Maori All Blacks against Japan and is set to arrive in the next couple of months after his commitments with Waikato finish.
