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Bath have confirmed the signing of Lions Super Rugby prop Jacques van Rooyen. The South African, who has played more than 60 times for the Lions since making his debut in 2014, is expected to arrive in the West Country in the next few days after playing in the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders this past Saturday. Van Rooyen becomes the fifth Lions player to leave the franchise at the end of the 2018 campaign. Lock Franco Mostert, prop Ruan Dreyer, flank Jaco Kriel have all left for Gloucester, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg has also played his last match for the Super Rugby franchise having joined Faf de Klerk at Sale Sharks. "I'm really looking forward to testing myself in the Northern Hemisphere and playing for a club with a great deal of ambition going into the new season," Van Rooyen said. Bath Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder added: "We are really pleased to bring someone in of Jacques' calibre in time for the new season. He's proven himself in Super Rugby and will bring a great deal to the squad both at the set piece and with ball in hand. "We have great strength in depth at loosehead with Jacques, Lucas [Noguera] and Nathan [Catt] all competing for the N0. 1 shirt after losing Beno [Obano] to injury in May. Jacques can also play at tighthead, which adds another option over the course of a busy season of domestic and European rugby."
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