Leinster spring Springbok prop van der Merwe

RUGBY NEWS:LEINSTER'S THIRD successive South African prop, Heinke van der Merwe, will arrive in the coming weeks on a two-year contract as a direct replacement for the departed CJ van der Linde.

The World Cup-winning Springbok tighthead recently returned home after a two-year, injury-disrupted stay that saw him miss out on the latter stages of Leinster’s successful Heineken Cup run in 2009.

Ollie Le Roux’s stint in Dublin proved more successful.

The 25-year-old van der Merwe, a loosehead by trade, has slipped down the Springbok pecking order due to the knee injury he sustained in 2009.

Like van der Linde, he will be expected to provide cover on both sides of the scrum.

A Leinster statement read: “Heinke’s wife Nicole is due to give birth within the next two weeks, so as soon as their child arrives, they will make the move to Ireland.

“Leinster will be announcing their playing squad and coaching team for season 2010/11 in the next fortnight.”

Ireland scrumhalf Isaac Boss and lock Ed O’Donoghue have already switched allegiance from Ulster.

Outhalf Butch James, who missed Saturday’s victory over Wales after being withdrawn over a contractual dispute, has been included in the Springboks squad for the one-off Test against France in Cape Town on Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICA(squad v France): B Basson, BJ Botha, Bakkies Botha, S Burger, J de Jongh, J de Villiers, J du Plessis, J Fourie, G Aplon, B Habana, A Hargreaves, B James, R Januarie, R Kankowski, Z Kirchner, F Louw, V Matfield, W Olivier, R Pienaar, D Potgieter, C Ralepelle, D Rossouw, J Smit (capt), P Spies, G Steenkamp, M Steyn, F van der Merwe.