Van der Merwe agrees to join Glasgow on two-year deal
Ruwald van der Merwe has agreed to join Glasgow Warriors on a two-year deal from this summer. The 27-year-old South African, who operates in the back row, will arrive at Scotstoun after Pumas' upcoming Currie Cup campaign. Van der Merwe was Pumas captain for last year's SA Cup.
[SNS] Ruwald van der Merwe has agreed to join Glasgow Warriors on a two-year deal from this summer. The 27-year-old South African, who operates in the back row, will arrive at Scotstoun after Pumas' upcoming Currie Cup campaign. Van der Merwe was Pumas captain for last year's SA Cup.
"I've followed the club for a while, and I never imagined I'd get the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious set-up," he told Warriors media. "I'm looking forward to giving my best and contributing wherever I can. "Supporters can expect a physical edge from me.
Coming from South Africa, that's something I take pride in. I enjoy carrying hard, using a mix of strength and speed, getting my hands free for offloads and contributing physically on defence and at set-piece time. "I want to make an impact in all areas and add as much as I can to the team.
" Van der Merwe says Glasgow head coach Franco Smith "told me a lot about the environment and his coaching approach". "I also spoke to Henco Venter, who had nothing but great things to say about the club and life in Glasgow, which made the decision even more exciting for me and my family," the loose forward added. And Smith said: "Ruwald is a player that we have been keeping an eye on for a while, having identified him as someone that we believe can bring real value to what we are aiming to build here.