Exeter sign Devon-born Pumas forward Andre Goedhals until 2030

Exeter Chiefs have taken Andre Goedhals from the Pumas. The 22-year-old forward was born in Devon, and Exeter's director of rugby, Rob Baxter, has made English-qualified players the focus of his recruitment.

Goedhals has signed a contract that runs until the summer of 2030. He can play at lock or in the back row, and this year he helped the Pumas reach the 2026 Currie Cup final. Before Mpumalanga he also spent time with the Stormers.

Because he was born in Devon, Goedhals is eligible for England. Baxter told BBC Sport that Exeter are a little short of England-qualified players, so his search for new players has centred on them.

Cover for a busy back five

Baxter said the club had been looking at options in the back five for some time. Their forwards are internationals who spend long spells away with their national teams, he explained, and a couple of injuries have left the squad thinner.

He listed Dafydd Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin among Exeter's locks, with Tom Hooper, Ethan Roots, Ross Vincent and Kane James in the back row.

Baxter pointed out that Goedhals already has a couple of years of Currie Cup rugby behind him with the Stormers and the Pumas, and he thinks the young forward has plenty of room to grow.

"I just think he'll develop into a very, very good player and he's EQP, which is what we really want," Baxter said, adding that "he just has something I think could develop into something special."