Cardiff sign South African fly-half Tinus de Beer from Pumas
- Published
Tinus de Beer (R) has been a regular performer in South Africa's Currie Cup
Cardiff have completed the signing of South African fly-half Tinus de Beer.
De Beer has been a long-term target for the Arms Park team who have lost both Wales stand-offs Jarrod Evans and Rhys Priestland this summer.
Initial efforts to sign the 27-year-old from Currie Cup side the Pumas were blocked by the Welsh Rugby Union, but the move has now come to fruition.
"I am extremely grateful to be here. It is a great club with great history and great culture," said De Beer.
"It is a club that strives on playing attractive rugby and a club that is ultimately looking to win games."
He added: "I am here to play rugby, I'm not here for a vacation or to prove anyone wrong or right, I am here to work hard with the boys.
"In the URC I would love to make the play-offs so (long-term), keeping that in mind and working hard towards that goal."
The player's agency earlier confirmed, external De Beer has signed and arrived in Cardiff on Friday.
De Beer was once seen as a future Springbok when he was selected for South Africa Schools and then helped steer the Junior Boks to third place in the Under-20s World Cup in 2015.
He broke into the Bulls senior team and has been a regular in the Currie Cup ever since.
Finding a new fly-half has been a priority for Cardiff this summer.
Evans was among 17 players to leave the Arms Park at the end of last season when he signed for Harlequins after Cardiff were unable to make a competitive offer amid drastic cost-cutting.
Priestland has also left but has yet to confirm whether he will retire from the game, while Cardiff missed out on signing either Sam Davies or Rhys Patchell.
Ben Thomas is one fly-half option and is among a handful of players the club announced as having signed new contracts following a conclusion to the Dai Young saga.
The director of rugby split from the club by mutual agreement after allegations of bullying, in April, were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence. Young firmly protested his innocence throughout.
Wales lock Teddy Williams and Theo Cabango have agreed new deals, while Cardiff recently announced the signing of prop Rhys Litterick from Harlequins.