Exeter Chiefs sign Pumas forward Andre Goedhals on deal to 2030

Exeter Chiefs have signed forward Andre Goedhals from South African side Pumas, on a contract that runs until the summer of 2030.

Goedhals is 22 and can play in two places: lock, the tall forwards who jump for the ball at lineouts, or the back row, the flankers and number eight who compete for possession on the ground and carry the ball in open play. That flexibility matters for a club that has been short of options in the second row, the pair of locks who form the heart of the pack.

He was born in Devon and is English-qualified, which means he is eligible to play for England. BBC Sport reports that Exeter's director of rugby, Rob Baxter, has confirmed the move.

Goedhals has been a key part of the Pumas side that reached the Currie Cup final, the championship final of South Africa's domestic competition. He has also spent time with the Stormers, the Cape Town team that plays in the United Rugby Championship, a league featuring clubs and provinces from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa.

Exeter's interest was no secret. On 19 October, RugbyPass reported that Baxter had admitted the club was targeting the Pumas player as it tried to ease an injury crisis in the second row. Three days later, the signing is done.

For a player still early in his career, the contract offers something rare: a long-term base at one of English rugby's established clubs, and time to grow into the role. Exeter have a settled system, and a versatile forward can find a route into a squad that way. Whether Goedhals earns a regular place will depend on fitness and form, and that is still to be seen on the pitch.