Koch to add beef for DHL Stormers

Koch, 24, will add significant front row depth following the overseas departures of Pat Cilliers and Brok Harris, both members of the Absa Currie Cup-winning DHL Western Province squad.

The strongly-built prop can play on both sides of the scrum, but he starred at tighthead prop for the Pumas during the 2014 Absa Currie Cup – more than playing his part in one of the tournament’s most powerful and consistent packs.

Koch, a stalwart for the Blue Bulls at Under-19 and Under-21 level, weighs 118 kilograms and stands 1,85 metres tall and will push for DHL Stormers selection along with SA Under-20 star Wilco Louw, who last week was also announced as a new signing, and Springbok Frans Malherbe.

“Tighthead prop is a crucial position in rugby and we’ve acted quickly to identify and sign quality players to step in and provide valuable depth in (and to compete for) the No.3 jersey,” WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal told www.wprugby.com.

“Frans Malherbe is a Springbok incumbent, were it not for his injury he would be on tour with the national squad at present, so we are satisfied that we have three quality players at our disposal (in Frans, Vincent and Wilco) ahead of next year’s Super Rugby tournament.”

Koch arrived in Cape Town on Monday and will form part of the DHL Western Province squad that will travel to London later this week to take on Saracens. That 24-man squad will be announced shortly.