Exeter Chiefs sign Devon-born lock André Goedhals on three-and-a-half-year deal

Exeter Chiefs have signed lock André Goedhals from Currie Cup side the Pumas on a three-and-a-half-year deal, with head coach Rob Baxter using an injury dispensation created by Andrea Zambonin’s shoulder surgery to push the move through.

Goedhals, 22, was born in Devon while his parents were living and working in the county before the family returned to Riversdale, a farming community in the Western Cape. That birthplace grants him a British passport and English Qualified Player (EQP) status — a factor Baxter described as central to the club’s current recruitment strategy.

“We are tight on EQP numbers, so my focus on recruitment has been around EQP players,” Baxter said. “I’ve looked at André for a long time in good detail, and at 21 — having played a couple of years already in the Currie Cup for Western Province and now for the Pumas — he just has something that I think could develop into something special. His versatility is good; I just think he’ll develop into a very, very good player.”

Baxter explained that depth in the back five has been a priority, noting that the club’s existing options — Dafydd Jenkins, Zambonin, Tom Hooper, Ethan Roots, Ross Vincent, Kane James, and Greg Fisilau — form a strong group on paper, but international call-ups regularly leave the squad feeling thinner than expected.

Goedhals, who can also operate in the back row, is expected to make his debut when Exeter resume their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Bath early next month.

The player said he was eager to test himself in a new environment. “It’s a club with great history and ambition. The opportunity to challenge myself, continue developing as a player and be part of such a competitive team was something I couldn’t turn down,” Goedhals said. “I’m looking forward to giving everything I have to the club, contributing to the team’s success and helping Chiefs compete for silverware.”