Premiership: Gerrit-Jan van Velze swaps Worcester Warriors for Bath

David Skippers

Bath have announced the signing of experienced forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze, who will join the Premiership side ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The 34-year-old, who can play on the flank, at number eight and second-row, and has played in more than 100 Premiership matches during stints with Northampton Saints from 2012 to 2014 and Worcester Warriors from 2014 to 2022.

He won the Premiership with Northampton during the 2013/14 season before joining Worcester where he became the skipper in his first season. Under his captaincy, the Warriors gained promotion from the Championship to the Premiership after they were relegated from England’s top flight in 2013.

Before coming to the Premiership, Van Velze captained the Blue Bulls during the Vodacom Cup and he also skippered the South Africa Academy, U19 and U20 teams.

Super Rugby experience

He was also part of the Bulls’ Currie Cup set-up before being elevated to the Pretoria-based outfit’s Super Rugby side in 2010.

Bath‘s head of rugby Johann van Graan is delighted that Van Velze has opted to move to the Recreation Ground-based outfit.

“GJ has a great amount of Premiership experience which will prove influential for the squad over the season to come,” he said.

“His leadership ability is a part of his character that I value and his ability to play four positions across the back five is very valuable through a season.”

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