South African hooker Michael van Vuuren will join Bath next season.
The 24-year-old moves to the West Country following a stint at Leicester Tigers. In South Africa, Van Vuuren represented the Cheetahs and the Kings, in between which he played for Stade Francais in the Top 14.
He said: “This is a great opportunity for me to compete for a place in a team that is really going places and I’m really thankful for the opportunity Bath have given me.
“I’ve had a taste of English rugby recently and I’m looking forward to playing in one of the toughest leagues in rugby. Bath focus on the individual development of players, and that appeals to me, so I’m excited to get started.”
Head Coach Mike Ford commented: “Michael will add to our competitive options at hooker. He is a robust, talented player, with a lot of potential to continue improving as a player, and we’re looking forward to helping him do that.”