Leicester Tigers seal deal for player they hope will fill Taufua void
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 31: Marco van Staden of the Bulls during the Super Rugby Unlocked match between Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on October 31, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
LEICESTER TIGERS have completed a deal that will see them sign another South African with Marco van Staden replacing Jordan Taufua.
Taufua moved to Lyon last week as an injury joker for Mathieu Bastareaud just six months after refusing to reduce his contract with the Tigers.
Bulls back row van Staden, 25, has won three Springboks caps and his brutal style of play has made him a firm fans favourite.
He will be the sixth South African on the Tigers books after they saw off both Bayonne and Bordeaux to lure him to Welford Road.
Tigers dispute the deal that Lyon claim to have struck with former Crusader Taufua, with head coach Steve Borthwick saying it remains an ‘ongoing situation'.
“Until it is completely resolved, it's not one for me to comment on,” Borthwick said.
Taufua is understood to have already left England to travel to France, where he is in quarantine ahead of joining up with the Lyon squad.
