Tuesday 5 January 2016 10:19, UK
South Africa great Schalk Burger will join Saracens next summer on a two-year contract.
Burger, who has won 86 caps for the Springboks, is a former IRB World Player of the Year and he will arrive at Allianz Park after completing his spells playing for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan and then the Stormers in Super Rugby.
The 6ft 4in superstar has played in four World Cups, winning the competition in 2007.
Saracens coach Mark McCall said: "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.
"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.
"By the beginning of next season we will have lost two highly experienced back-row forwards in Ernst Joubert and Jacques Burger, so to have a player of Schalk's calibre coming into the squad is fantastic news.
"He is a man who has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game of rugby. Not only is he a fine rugby player, he is a humble and down to earth guy who we believe we will fit into the Saracens environment.
"We're all very excited to welcome Schalk and his family to Allianz Park for the 2016 season."
Burger, 32, said: "I'm delighted to be joining Saracens. I'm extremely excited to have the opportunity to play in both the Aviva Premiership and the European Cup, two of the leading competitions in world rugby for such a special club.
"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. I'm looking forward to playing alongside my new team-mates and playing in front of all the Saracens fans and getting to know everyone at Allianz Park."
