SEDGLEY Park's second row target has finally put pen to paper to sign on for the rest for the season with the Tigers.

Twenty-three-year-old Louis Holtzhausen comes to Park Lane after spending the 2004 Currie Cup campaign in the red of The Falcons.

"We've been tracking him since the start of the season," said Tigers player-coach Tim Fourie, himself a South African.

"I phoned the Falcons, who used to be Eastern Transvaal, and the guy that is now the president used to be my first team manager when I played for them.

"He recommended Louis to us, so I phoned him a few times and talked it over with him.

"He has been out of action for a few months after picking up a trapped nerve in his back, but he is over that now and fully fit once more.

"He has been training hard and is now raring to go. He may not be match-fit but that won't take long.

"He is currently sorting out his visa and if all goes well he should be with us next week."

The signing gives Fourie options in the forwards that he has not had since losing Paul Arnold to Orrell last summer.

"We could have struggled having no real second row cover if either myself or Eric Lund had got injured," he explained.

"Also, if Number 8 Jon Skurr was ruled out we would have struggled there also.

"But with Louis in the set-up it means I can either start him and then replace him myself , or I can start and he can replace me.

"And with Louis in the second row I am then free to go into the back row if needed."

At 6ft 6ins and weighing in at over 16 stones, Holtzthausen has spent the last two seasons as part of the Falcons Currie Cup squad and took part in the South African warm-up squad sessions in preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Previously he starred for the Blue Bulls and the South African under 21s, touring Wales and France with the Under 19s.

Also training with the first team is former rugby league professional Steve Hall, who played centre/wing for St Helens, Widnes and London Broncos before moving to France.