Gerrit-Jan van Velze has agreed to join Aviva Premiership side Northampton Saints from the Blue Bulls in the summer.

Having came through the youth system with the Bulls, the 24-year-old believes that the time is right for him to begin a new challenge.

"I'm lucky enough to have got the opportunity to come here and take my career to the next level," he told the club's official website.

"We see a lot of the games in South Africa with Saints being one of the biggest clubs, so we all know of the team and how it plays.

"I'll be filling big boots, that's for sure. But I'll be coming to a club that's very professional and with people who work hard and want to win trophies. I've been very impressed with the club; it's somewhere which can be compared to the best clubs in world rugby."

The number eight made his Super Rugby debut in 2010.

Written by
Liam Apicella