Former Bok Willem Alberts is poised to join the Lions ahead of the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season should he successfully pass his ‘medical examinations’.

According to IOL Sport, Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli has confirmed that the 35-year-old utility forward is set to arrive at the club in the coming days.

‘He will then undergo medicals. No contracts are signed before a player passes the medical tests,’ said Straeuli.

Alberts, who has been playing for Top 14 side Stade Francais since 2015, previously featured domestically for the Sharks and Lions.

Nicknamed the ‘Bone Collector’, Alberts gained a reputation during his stint with the Lions for his crunching tackles and strong carries. Having earned 43 Test caps for the Boks, Alberts will certainly add valuable experience to what is set to be a youthful Lions loose trio.

ALSO READ: Lions in talks with Alberts

Fellow veteran Jannie du Plessis has already joined up with the squad for their pre-season preparations, but Straeuli noted that the club would not make any additional big-name signings, with the likes of Roelof Smit, Jamba Ulengo and Dan Kriel having joined the side in recent months.

Straeuli also confirmed that Hacjivah Dayimani, who was unfortunately ruled out of this weekend’s Cape Town Sevens tournament, will feature for the Lions during next year’s Vodacom Super Rugby campaign despite his current involvement with the Blitzboks squad.

Having been ruled out for the entire 2020 Super Rugby season due to an ongoing injury, regular captain Warren Whiteley will fill a yet-to-be confirmed coaching role within Ivan van Rooyen’s management team. Straeuli added that the roles of the assistants involved would be confirmed at a later date.

Photo: Alex Davidson/Getty Images