Top Union trio set for Huddersfield

Jun 29 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD have completed three exciting signings as they gear up for the new rugby union season.

Former Cardiff Blues and Doncaster left winger Donovan Van Vuuren, ex-Leeds, Halifax and Manchester flanker Gareth Lewis and hot Huddersfield YMCA prospect Adam Ryder are all heading to Lockwood Park.

South African Van Vuuren – who played representative rugby for Western Province – and Huddersfield old boy Lewis are both proven players while 19-year-old Ryder shone for the Laund Hill side last season.

Now all three will aim to help Huddersfield further establish themselves at national league level, with fixtures in the newly-named II North getting under way at well-known Liverpool side Waterloo on Saturday, September 5.

Van Vuuren, 32, has had five years at Doncaster, who play in the newly-named Guinness Championship (formerly National I).

Raised in Cape Town, he played for Transvaal Under 21s and after impressing for Western Province in the Currie Cup, was brought to Cardiff by Pieter Muller, who later switched to Doncaster, with Van Vuuren following.

“Donovan has scored a lot of tries for Doncaster and will come to fill a position where we definitely needed to strengthen,” said Sowerby, who has released Van Vuuren’s compatriot Barry Jacobsz, who is being linked with Sedgeley Park.

Powerful 28-year-old openside Lewis learned his trade at Huddersfield before leaving 10 years ago for a stint in the Leeds academy.

The former Yorkshire Under 20s player was then part of a successful side at Halifax before moving to Manchester, who loaned him out to Harrogate for the closing stages of last season.