Lions bag themselves an Eagle

The Lions have added to their crop of talented loose forwards by acquiring the services of United States Eagles captain Todd Clever for the 2009 Super 14 and Currie Cup competitions.

The Lions have added to their crop of talented loose forwards by acquiring the services of United States Eagles captain Todd Clever for the 2009 Super 14 and Currie Cup competitions.

The pony-tailed Clever, who is 1,94m tall and weighs 100kg, made a huge impression at last year's World Cup and also had an outstanding game when the Eagles played against South Africa.

He played for North Harbour in New Zealand in 2006 and is an outstanding Sevens player, as he proved in the 2007 International Rugby Board (IRB) tournament in George.

“This is a great opportunity. Playing with and against the best players in the world week in and week will improve my game dramatically,” Clever said.

“I've always had the utmost respect for the level of speed, commitment and physicality of South African rugby and know there is a lot of hard work ahead. I am looking forward to doing it.”

Lions coach Eugene Eloff, who has just lost Springbok number eight Joe van Niekerk to French Top 14 club Toulon, is excited that Clever has accepted the Lions' offer.

“He showed at the World Cup that he is in a different class,” said the Lions coach.

Eloff said that he intended signing another player or two for the Lions for the 2009 season.