EXETER CHIEFS have secured the services of promising South African lock André Goedhals on a deal running until the summer of 2030, after bringing forward his arrival from the Airlink Pumas.

The 6ft 6in second-row, originally agreed to join Chiefs next season, but an early release from the Currie Cup side means the 22-year-old has arrived in Devon almost a year ahead of schedule.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes Goedhals has the potential to develop into a special player, with his versatility and English-qualified status making him an important addition to the squad.

Goedhals said: “I’m really excited to be joining Exeter Chiefs. It’s a club with great history and ambition. The opportunity to challenge myself in a new environment, continue developing as a player and be part of such a competitive team was something I couldn’t turn down and that I always wanted.

“I’m looking forward to giving everything I have to the club, contributing to the team’s success and helping Chiefs compete for silverware. I’m also excited to experience rugby in England and to grow both on and off the field over the next few years.”

Goedhals made six appearances and scored two tries during the 2026 Currie Cup campaign, helping the Pumas reach the final.

He previously came through the DHL Stormers and Western Province pathway after attending Oakdale Agricultural High School, which has also produced British and Irish Lions back-rower CJ Stander.

Baxter said Chiefs had been monitoring Goedhals – who was born Devon – for some time as they looked to strengthen their options across the back five of the scrum.

“We’ve been looking at back-five options for a little while because I think it’s an area where we can still develop and improve,” he said. “We’ve got some great players in that group, but the challenge is that some of those players are internationals and get taken away for chunks of time. When you pick up a couple of injuries, as we have done, you can suddenly feel a bit thinner than you thought you were.”

Injuries to Andrea Zambonin and Lewis Pearson have increased the need for cover, while Tom Hooper's absence at the start of the season further stretched resources.

Baxter added: “I’ve looked at André in a lot of detail over a long period. At 21, having played a couple of years in the Currie Cup, initially with Western Province and now with the Pumas, I think he has something that could develop into something special.

“His versatility is a real positive. We’ve managed to get him in early, which is good because it gives us additional cover while Manny (Immanuel Feyi-Waboso) is injured and while players are away on international duty.”

Baxter also highlighted Goedhals’ English-qualified status as an important factor in the club’s recruitment plans.

“He’s English-qualified, which is important for us because we’re a little tight on our EQP numbers,” he said. “We need to bring through the next group who can potentially follow Daf and Zambo as they mature. We have to make sure we’re always planning ahead, as well as having players here who are ready to go now.”

The Chiefs boss has previously recruited South African forwards Don Armand, Aidan Davis, Joseph Dweba, Jacques Vermeulen and Jannes Kirsten, and hopes Goedhals can follow a similar path with regular game time.

Baxter thanked the Pumas for allowing the move to happen early and said the club would look to get the new arrival up to speed quickly, with the possibility of him featuring in the Premiership Rugby Cup in the coming weeks.