Cheetahs loose forward Junior Pokomela will be joining the Stormers as one of three new loan signings for the inaugural United Rugby Championship season.

The Stormers on Monday announced that loose forwards Pokomela and Willie Engelbrecht (Pumas) and Griquas scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer have joined on loan for the URC.

Pokomela and Ungerer both bring the experience of playing in the PRO14 – for the Cheetahs and Kings, respectively – while Engelbrecht was with the Stormers for the Rainbow Cup SA earlier this year.

The athletic Pokomela is a former SA Schools and Junior Springbok loose forward, who has played for the Cheetahs for the past four years.

Engelbrecht and Ungerer join from the Pumas and Griquas, respectively, where they made significant contributions in the recent Currie Cup campaign.

Engelbrecht is a powerful loose forward, while Ungerer is a seasoned scrumhalf with both Super Rugby and PRO14 experience.

Stormers head coach John Dobson said that all three players will add to the depth in the squad ahead of the exciting new competition, with the Stormers starting their campaign on a four-match tour of Europe.

“These three players are all proven performers who will complement the resources we already have going forward.

“We leave for what will be a demanding tour at the end of this week, so having these players on the plane with us is a significant boost,” he said.

Dobson added that he is looking forward to seeing what these players can do in a Stormers jersey.

“Willie was with us earlier this year and showed that he is not the type to take a backwards step. Junior has a wide range of skills and is an impressive athlete, while Stefan is a smart player who has shown an ability to control the game well,” he said.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images