Anton Bresler to be next South African at Edinburgh

The flow of rugby players from South Africa to Scotland is set to continue, with Edinburgh expected to announce in the near future the signing of the Natal Sharks lock Anton Bresler. At 1.98m and 112kg, the Namibian-born 26-year-old second-row has been regarded as an enforcer in the Sharks team, where he plays in the same forward pack as “The Beast” – the prop Tendai Mtawarira.

Anton Bresler: New signing. Picture: Getty

Bresler is currently recovering from a shoulder operation but should be fully fit by the time he arrives in Edinburgh in about two months’ time. The big lock joins fellow Sharks second-row Ross Skeate in the exit queue, Skeate having signed for the French club Agen.

Edinburgh showed their lack of depth at second row in their defeat by Zebre last Saturday and needed to strengthen their squad in this position following the departure of regular starter Izak van der Westhuizen, who is returning to his native South Africa to play for Eastern Province Kings, and Sean Cox, who has signed for London Irish next season. Bresler could form a partnership in the second row with Scotland cap Grant Gilchrist, who extended his contract with the capital side until 2016.

Elsewhere, Bath winger Tom Biggs has agreed to join Worcester in the summer. The 29-year-old former Leeds and Newcastle man was Bath’s top try scorer during the 2011-12 season and picked up the Supporters’ Player of the Year award.

“I am excited about the challenge of joining Worcester,” said Biggs, capped by England at Under-21, Sevens and Saxons level. “They are a very ambitious club but have not reached where they have wanted to be over recent seasons and I want to play a part in helping them achieve success. I am looking forward to working with Carl Hogg again and with my ex-Bath team-mate Sam Vesty. When I met with (director of rugby Dean Ryan) he was very honest about where the club were and where he wants to take it. He is also a fellow Staffordshire bull terrier owner and that was a deal breaker.”

London Wasps have announced the signing of Italian tight-head Lorenzo Cittadini, who will join ahead of next season. Cittadini will join from Benetton Treviso to play alongside international team-mates Andrea Masi and Carlo Festuccia at Adams Park. Wasps coach Dai Young said: “Lorenzo will be an excellent addition to our squad next year. I rate him as a very good prop at the highest level and his experience at international level will be a real boost for us.

“We’ve got some very good young props here at Wasps who will learn a lot from working with him.”

Cittadini will join other new signings Bradley Davies, James Gaskell and Rob Miller at Wasps next season.