Wednesday 21 March 2018 09:07, UK
Gloucester have signed former South Africa U20 hooker Franco Marais from the Sharks for next season.
The 25-year-old will join the Cherry and Whites at the end of the current Super Rugby campaign.
Marais won the World Rugby U20 Championship with South Africa in 2012 and made his Sharks debut two years later.
He will replace Wales hooker Richard Hibbard, who is leaving Gloucester for the Dragons in the summer.
"He is a player that has captured a lot of attention in Super Rugby with his work at the set piece, and he is excited to be a part of what we're hoping to achieve here at Gloucester moving forward," said Gloucester director of rugby David Humphries.
"Johan [Ackermann] is well aware of Franco's qualities as a player and as an individual, and the way he has been progressing in Super Rugby.
"We're delighted that he's going to come and join us at Kingsholm."
