Sharks loose forward Brynard Stander has joined the Western Force for their 2014 Super Rugby season.

The 23-year-old is the eighth South African heading to the Perth-based side, following Wilhelm Steenkamp (Bulls), Chris Heiberg and Marcel Brache (both Western Province), and wider training group members Dillyn Leyds, Dylan Sage and Francois van Wyk (all Western Province) as newcomers to the Force.

Stander progressed through the Sharks development programme, representing the Sharks at U19 and U21 levels, before spending the past two seasons in their Vodacom and Currie Cup squads.

In 2013, he was named Forward of the Year in the Sharks' Vodacom Cup squad and was a member of the Sharks squad that won the Currie Cup, defeating Western Province 33-19 in the final.

VIDEO: Stander on how his move to the Force came about

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images