Springbok World Cup-winning prop CJ van der Linde has signed for Premiership club London Irish for the remainder of the season.

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The versatile front row forward moves from Johannesburg side the Golden Lions, who reached the semifinals of the Currie Cup this year.

Educated at Grey College in Bloemfontein, Van der Linde made his debut for the Springboks as a 20-year-old in 2002 in a match against Scotland at Murrayfield to earn the first of his 75 caps.

Van der Linde reached the peak of the world game in 2007 when he started South Africa’s successful World Cup Final against England.

Standing 1.90m and weighing 122kgs, the imposing prop forward has represented Free State Cheetahs, the Cats and Stormers at Super Rugby level, before he moved to Europe for a spell with Leinster in the 2009/10 season. He returned to South Africa to play for Western Province and the Stormers before moving to the Golden Lions.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: “CJ is a 70 plus cap Springbok and has been brought in to replace Halani Aulika as a starting tighthead.

“He’s a world class scrummager and will bring a lot of experience and composure to our pack, particularly at scrum time.

“His arrival is timely as we look to re-establish ourselves as a dominant scrum in the Premiership. I know Glenn Delaney and Phil Keith-Roach are keen to work with a World Cup-winning tighthead.”

This comes on the same day that London Irish Holdings confirmed that a majority shareholding in the company has been acquired by a consortium of London based Irish businessmen.

London Irish Holdings is the parent company of London Irish Scottish Richmond Limited which manages the Premiership team, and other companies including one that owns and will operate the club’s new Centre of Excellence training and administration complex at Hazelwood, Sunbury on Thames, that is on schedule to open in 2014.

The consortium is led by Mick Crossan, Executive Chairman of Powerday plc, the recycling and environmental waste management group, which is the principal sponsor of both the London Irish professional and amateur teams.

Crossan will be President of London Irish and David Fitzgerald, a former London Irish club captain and experienced international businessman, will be interim Executive Chairman.

London Irish also confirmed that its Chief Executive, Andy Martin has left the business by mutual agreement. A new Chief Executive will be appointed in due course, in the meantime the club will be managed by an executive group consisting of David Fitzgerald, the interim Executive Chairman; Chris Miles, Chief Operating Officer; Kieran McCarthy, Head of Rugby Operations; Jim O’Toole, Commercial Director; and Brian Smith, Director of Rugby.

London Irish was formed in 1898 and bought its current base at The Avenue, Sunbury on Thames in 1934. The club went professional in 1996 while maintaining an Amateur section. The professional club has been a member of the Premiership since it started while the Amateur club has thrived and currently competes in National League 2 South.

London Irish is the only club in the country to have teams competing at these levels.