Sunwolves sign Springbok duo

David Skippers
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The Sunwolves have announced that former Springboks JJ Engelbrecht and Rudy Paige have joined their ranks for the 2020 Super Rugby season.

Engelbrecht (utility back) has played in 12 Tests for the Springboks while Paige (scrum-half) has represented his country in 13 Tests. The two 30-year-olds join the Sunwolves from Top 14 outfit Clermont Auvergne, where they had short-term contracts as World Cup cover.

Engelbrecht had spells at the Stormers and Bulls in Super Rugby and at Welsh region the Ospreys in 2016 while Paige has played for the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Cheetahs at PRO14 level.

The Sunwolves have also signed Bulls front-row Conraad van Vuuren as well as Australia duo Michael Stolberg (lock) and Corey Thomas (back-row).

2020 will be the last year that the Sunwolves will be in action in the Super Rugby tournament. Earlier this year, SANZAAR revealed that following a substantial review via a strategic planning process the immediate future of Super Rugby rests with a 14-team, round robin, competition format.

The revised format will come into operation and kick-off in 2021 which means the Sunwolves will drop out of the existing 15-team Super Rugby competition at the end of the 2020 season.

The Sunwolves’ 2020 Super Rugby opener will be against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday, February 1 in Fukuoka.

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