Japanese Super Rugby side the Sunwolves have snapped up a number of South African players to bolster their ranks for the 2018 Super Rugby season as they seek to improve on their two dismal years in the competition.
Wing Gerhard van den Heever, loose-forwards Willie Britz and Wimpie van der Walt, lock Grant Hattingh and prop Ruan Smith have all been included in the squad by Kiwi coach Jamie Joseph.
The 28-year-old Van den Heever has previously played Super Rugby with the Bulls and Stormers, amassing 57 caps, and is also a former South Africa Under-20 international.
He is also contracted to Yamaha Júbilo in Japan, and played for Irish side Munster from 2013-16.
Van der Walt is a Japanese international who played for the side in their 23-23 draw with France last month. He has also formerly represented the Bulls and Southern Kings in his homeland.
The 29-year-old Cape Town-born Britz has previously turned out for the Lions and Cheetahs, while Hattingh is a former player with the Lions and Bulls, but has played for the Kubota Spears in Japan since 2015.
Smith has played Super Rugby for the Western Force and ACT Brumbies, and is the twin brother of prop JP Smith, who recently signed with the Queensland Reds.
The Sunwolves have won just three of their 30 matches in Super Rugby since they made their debut in the competition in 2016.
They are looking to improve on that record as Japan prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2019, though Joseph, who doubles up as national team coach, will be keen to give as many potential Blossoms players as possible a rub to build experience ahead of the global showpiece tournament.