Lions sign speedy wing Edwill van der Merwe

The Lions have secured the services of try-scoring machine Edwill van der Merwe.

The 25-year-old who went to Paul Roos Gymnasium and also turned out for Maties in the Varsity Cup competition has been in prolific form for Western Province and the Stormers in recent months.

Van der Merwe is also a former Junior Bok, having played for the SA U-20 team in 2016.

It is not known for how long the winger has signed for, but he was unveiled as a new Lions signing on social media on Monday.

Van der Merwe is seemingly one of a number of new players the Lions have signed ahead of their entry into European rugby competition, the United Rugby Championship, which gets underway in the next few weeks.

The Lions posted on Twitter at the weekend “Who is heading to Joburg?”

Van der Merwe, who made his senior debut in 2019, has developed a reputation for being a quality finisher, and he will compete for a starting place in the team with the likes of Stean Pienaar and Rabx Maxwane.

Van der Merwe is seen as a replacement for the departed Courtnall Skosan, who has opted to leave the Lions for Northampton.

It is expected that the Lions will announce more players over the course of the next few days, as well as announcing the arrival of additional coaching staff, including Jaque Fourie and Albert van den Berg.

Warren Whiteley meanwhile, who has been in charge of the lineouts for the last two seasons after being forced to give up his splaying career because of injury, has decided to join the Sharks.