Heyneke Meyer’s Stade Francais summer overhaul has continued with the signing of two Springboks for the 2019/20 Top 14 season according to RugbyRama.
They report that Meyer has returned to his native South Africa in order to find some new recruits for the Parisian side, and has already signed Springbok pair Ruan Combrinck and Lionel Mapoe.
It is believed that 29-year-old Combrinck has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club, while Mapoe will come in as a World Cup joker, and if he impresses, he may be offered a more permanent role.
Both join from Super Rugby franchise the Lions and are among a host of new faces at the club already this summer with the likes of Pablo Matera, Sefanaia Naivalu, James Hall, Loic Godener, Joris Segonds, Pierre-Henry Azagoh, Quantin Bethune, Thierry Feuteu, Chris Mavinga and Christopher Vaotoa all joining too.
Combrinck was last capped by the Springboks in 2016, while Mapoe last lined-out for the national side against Argentina in the August of 2018.
The club are hoping that the new additions will help fill the voids left by some key men such as Sergio Parisse, Djibril Camara and Alexandre Flanquart, who all left due to off-field issues with the club.
As well as losing players Stade Francais have also seen coaches Mike Prendergast and Paul O’Connell depart, but are looking to turn things around with their new recruits.
