De Kock Steenkamp

Welsh club Ospreys have confirmed that they have signed Stormers lock De Kock Steenkamp on a three-year contract, despite the player having one more year on his contract in the Cape.

Steenkamp, 27, secured an early release from his Stormers contract and will join the PRO12 club after representing the Stormers on 49 occasions in Super Rugby and playing 59 games for the Western Province in the Currie Cup.

“Joining the Ospreys is a great opportunity for me and a challenge that I can’t wait to get stuck into,” said Steenkamp in a statement on Ospreys’ official website.

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“Looking around the place and talking to people there really made me excited about signing.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to link up with the squad soon and play a part in helping to make sure the Ospreys remain the best side in Wales as well as one of the best in Europe.”

Should Steenkamp honour the length of his contract in Wales, he will become eligible to represent Wales at Test level.

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Blue Bulls front rower Hencus van Wyk will miss the rest of the Currie Cup season after undergoing ankle surgery which ruled him out of rugby for six months.

Van Wyk was injured in the match against Western Province on August 30.

There were no casualties in the Blue Bulls ranks following their 36-26 win over the Golden Lions at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Monday.

Dean Greyling (ankle) and Callie Visagie (groin) will only train on Tuesday, while Ulrich Beyers and Nardus van der Walt is sick and sat out Monday’s session.

Jesse Kriel will return next week from his ankle strain as well as Morne Mellett (knee).

Jurgen Visser, Pierre Spies, Arno Botha, Frik Kirsten, Jaco Visagie, Flip van der Merwe and now Van Wyk remain on the long-term casualty list.

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Western Province forward Rynhardt Elstadt will appear before a SARU disciplinary committee in Cape Town on Tuesday for charging dangerously into a ruck during their
Currie Cup clash against the EP Kings last Friday.

Elstadt received a yellow card for the incident in the 57th minute, which was in breach of Law 10.4 (h).

The law states that a player must not charge into a ruck or maul without the use of the arms or without grasping a player.

The hearing will take place at 12:00 and Advocate Rob Stelzner has been appointed the judicial officer.

WP won the game 49-14.