The Scarlets have bolstered their second-row stocks for their South African tour by signing a Stormers skyscraper on a short-term loan deal.
Alex Groves, who featured prominently for Western Province during the recent Currie Cup campaign and was part of the broader Stormers squad for the URC campaign, will link up with the Welsh region for their clashes against the Lions and Sharks.
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The towering 2.05m lock was always going to find regular game time hard to come by in Cape Town, with JD Schickerling, Ruben van Heerden, Adré Smith and Salmaan Moerat all ahead of him in the pecking order. His move to Llanelli offers valuable experience and minutes at URC level as he continues his development.
Groves, 24, has previously turned out for the Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks, featuring in the Premiership Cup and English Championship before returning to South Africa earlier this year to join WP and the Stormers.
Groves will be joined at the Scarlets by Harvey Cuckson, a Welsh-qualified lock from Bath, who has also been brought in on a short-term deal.
The pair’s arrival comes at a crucial time for the Welsh side which is without Max Douglas (rib injury), while Steve Cummins has returned to the Dragons and Jac Price and Will Evans remain sidelined.
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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