Rugby: London’s Saracens sign Springbok great Schalk Burger

LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Saracens have signed South Africa flanker Schalk Burger on a two-year contract starting next season, the English Premiership champions said on Monday.

Schalk_Burger
Springbok flanker Schalk Burger in action.

“Schalk is a Springbok legend and will add a huge amount of experience and quality to our young English pack of forwards at the club,” director of rugby Mark McCall told the Saracens website.

“We have always talked about having the right blend of experience and youth in our squad, so to be able to add one of the world’s finest players to the group is extremely exciting news.”

Burger, 32, has won 86 caps in a 12-year international career that included winning the World Cup with the Springboks in 2007. He has played in four World Cups, including last year’s hosted by England.

He will join the London-based club after a spell with Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath and Cape Town-based South African Super Rugby side the Stormers.

“It’s an exciting challenge for me and my family and hopefully I can add a lot of value both on and off the field to an already successful group of players and coaches,” Burger said.

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