Paul Roos centre signs with Scottish club

Scottish outfit Edinburgh have announced the signing of South African centre Jordan Venter.

Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021

Venter, 17, who is currently still at school at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, will link-up with the club in December 2020 following the conclusion of the academic year.

After signing with Edinburgh, Venter told the club's official website: "I’'m very humbled by the opportunity to join Edinburgh. I'm still a young man with lots to learn, so getting the chance to develop my own game overseas is the best decision for my rugby career.

"Edinburgh, as a city and as a club, has so much heritage and tradition. While the coaching staff and squad there are phenomenal.

"I've also got a good relationship with some of the South African players already there, so it will make for an easy transition when I make the move to Scotland."

Head Coach Richard Cockerill added: "Jordan is a young, athletic centre with bags of potential. We have kept a close eye on his school career and he’ll be a welcome addition to the squad next season."

Born and raised in George, Western Cape - the same town as current Edinburgh Rugby winger Duhan van der Merwe - Venter represented South Western Districts at an early age.

In a bid to further his rugby career, Venter made the move to Paul Roos where he has been enrolled in boarding school since 2016.

The centre was named in the under-16 Western Province Elite Squad before a shoulder injury derailed his bid to compete at Craven Week.

Now at under-18 level, Venter took part in the 2019 World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Japan, where Paul Roos claimed first place, defeating St Peters College 52-5 in a one-sided final.

Venter was more recently named vice-captain of the South Africa under-18 Sevens side which won last month’s Capricorn Group Sevens Rugby Tournament in Namibia.

- Edinburgh Rugby

Venter of attention! ??????

We have today signed centre Jordan Venter, who joins the club from @PaulRoos_Gym for the 2020-21 season.

Read the full story.

— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) March 5, 2020