Premiership club swoop for highly-rated South African prospect to replace departing Springbok
Springboks forward Jasper Wiese and Junior Springbok Corne Beets.
Leicester Tigers have swooped to fill Jasper Wiese’s void at the club, with the Springboks star set to depart at the end of the season.
Wiese has been a pivotal part of the Leicester pack since arriving at the Premiership outfit from the Cheetahs in 2020, with his form earning him a maiden Test call-up and subsequent debut in 2021.
The club has already confirmed the departure of the Rugby World Cup-winning loose forward, and they have secured the services of a rising star from South Africa as his replacement.
Corne Beets signs for Leicester Tigers
On Tuesaday, Leicester Tigers announced that Junior Springbok of the Year, Corne Beets has signed a long-term contract with the club.
The 20-year-old is considered to be one of the best prospects in South Africa after starting for the U20s during last year’s U20 World Championships, scoring a try in the third-place playoff against England.
The number eight is currently plying his trade with the Bulls, but with the likes of Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw, Mpilo Gumede and Cameron Hanekom on the Pretoria-based side’s books, he has found game time in the senior squad hard to come by.
“The incredible opportunity to become a member of the prestigious Leicester Tigers family excites me,” Beets said in a Leicester Tigers statement.
“It is an honour and a privilege to bring my enthusiasm and expertise to this legendary club, and I am eager to take on the challenges that lie ahead while creating lifelong memories with my teammates and the amazing Leicester Tigers supporters.
“I’m excited to fully immerse myself in Leicester’s rich culture and become a proud member of the community.”
Beets played his school rugby at Paarl Gymnasium in the Western Cape province of South Africa, the same school as future teammate and double-World Cup winner Handré Pollard.
‘Looks like a Leicester Tigers player’
Leicester have had recent success in signing South African forwards and General Manager Richard Wilks believes that Beets will have a similar impact.
“We’ve seen the growth in players like Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese at Tigers and we’ve no doubt Corne will dedicate himself as those players have and grow from strength to strength at the club,” he said.
“From our meetings with him and from his reputation, Corne’s also got the right personality and character for our club, and we’re just excited for him to join us.”
Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “We’re really pleased to have Corne join us next season.”
“Watching him play, he looks like a Leicester Tigers player. He’s tough, he’s physical and has a really high work rate and you those are characteristics that you want to see in a young player and from our conversations, he’s certainly got the right character to thrive at this club so we’re excited to welcome him to the group.”
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