WALES international back row Andries Pretorius will join Worcester Warriors from Cardiff Blues in the summer.
The 28-year-old, who was named in Wales’ 2013 Six Nations squad, becomes the first signing to be announced by the Sixways club ahead of next season.
It also demonstrates another statement of Warriors’ intent as they aim to build a side to compete in the upper echelons of the Aviva Premiership.
Pretorius, who captained Blues last season, said he was looking forward to linking back up with Worcester’s director of rugby Dean Ryan and head coach Carl Hogg having worked with the duo at Gloucester.
“I will continue to give Cardiff 100 per cent until the end of the season. My focus will then turn to Worcester,” Pretorius said.
“I have known Dean Ryan and Carl Hogg from my days at Hartpury and Gloucester. They are top quality coaches who want to take Worcester to the top of English rugby.
“Dean really impressed me with his long term vision for the club and I very much look forward to working with the coaching team to achieve their goals.”
Pretorius. who was born and bred in South Africa, moved to the UK in 2006 to study business at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.
Having skippered Hartpury and represented England students, the number eight then linked up with Gloucester’s Academy before making the move to Cardiff where he was named Players’ Player of the Year in 2011.
During his five-year spell with the RaboDirect PRO 12 side, he also won the first of his two caps for Wales in last year’s summer tour of Japan and Ryan believes Pretorius will be a strong addition to his squad.
“I am delighted that Andries has chosen to join the club as we build for the future to become a competitive force in the Aviva Premiership,” Ryan said.
“We have seen two of our top players extend their contracts last month, which demonstrates that current players and those we are seeking to bring to the club buy into our vision of building for the long-term.
“Andries has a proven track record so we look forward to welcoming him to Sixways in the summer.”
Warriors chief executive Charles Cameron added: “Andries’ signing is evidence of the development taking place at the club and shows we are moving in the right direction.”