MONTPELLIER HAVE CONFIRMED the long-rumoured signings of South African international front row pair Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis.
The du Plessis brothers will join the Top 14 club from the Sharks following the World Cup, with both players having agreed three-year contracts.
The arrivals of 31-year-old hooker Bismarck and 32-year-old tighthead prop Jannie will swell the ever-growing ranks of South Africans at Montpellier since Jake White took over at the club during the season just ended.
The 2007 World Cup-winning coach has set about bringing in a host of South African players, with the likes of Pierre Spies, Demetri Catrakilis, Jacques du Plessis, Schalk van der Merwe, Wiaan Liebenberg and Cameron Wright set to join.
White has also convinced Australian pair Jesse Mogg and Nic White to move to Montpellier from his former club, the Brumbies.
With around 15 French players leaving Montpellier this summer, there have been increasing murmurs of unrest from within the club, as homegrown players such as François Trinh-Duc have apparently become unhappy with the direction White is taking.
There has also been word of a major divide between the club’s academy set-up and White’s senior squad, with fans now concerned that Montpellier may lose their unique spirit amidst the heavy South African influence.
President Mohad Altrad will simply look for positive results on the pitch after another frustrating season in 2014/15, one which saw previous head coach Fabien Galthié ousted from his position.
Montpellier finished the Top 14 season eighth in the table, outside the play-off spots and Champions Cup qualification positions. The club also won just one of their six pool games in the European competition in a group containing Toulouse, Glasgow and Bath.
Altrad has continued to invest heavily in recruitment as he looks to drive Montpellier towards their first trophy success since 2004′s European Shield win.
With 132 international caps between them, the du Plessis brothers will expect to help White fulfil Altrad’s wishes.
