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US Eagles scrumhalf Ruben de Haas has signed a two-year contract with Saracens. The 22-year-old had initially signed with the Cheetahs through October, but will now move to London in July at the completion of the upcoming Franchise Cup in South Africa.
Saracens were relegated to the English second division – the RFU Championship – last year following repeat violations of the salary cap, but are set to make an immediate return to the Premiership later this year. They could in fact do so without playing a single match in the second tier with the Championship season in doubt due to the ongoing pandemic.
de Haas has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Cheetahs, making both his Super Rugby and Currie Cup debuts in recent months. The future of the Cheetahs, however, is unknown with the Free State side, along with the Southern Kings, dropped from the Guinness Pro Championship in favor of South Africa’s four Super Rugby franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers.
There will now be three USA internationals with Saracens next season, including hooker Kapeli Pifeleti and flyhalf or fullback Will Hooley. The latter was part of the Rugby World Cup 2019 squad alongside de Haas. Former Pumas center Juan Pablo Socino is also at the club.
