• Utility forward Abongile Nonkontwana has left the Bulls for English club Ealing Trailfinders.
• Nonkontwana played 27 Currie Cup and nine Super Rugby games for the Bulls and also had a PRO14 stint with the Cheetahs.
• The Trailfinders play in the RFU Championship, the second tier of English professional rugby.

English second division club the Ealing Trailfinders have announced the signing of Abongile Nonkontwana from Bulls on a two-year deal.

The South African, who can play lock and loose forward, came through the youth system at the Bulls before signing with the senior squad in 2017.

He played 27 Currie Cup and nine Super Rugby games for the Bulls before moving to the Cheetahs in 2018, where featured 16 times in the PRO14.

The 25-year-old returned to the Bulls for the 2019-20 Super Rugby season, but with the Covid-19 pandemic bringing the competition to an early conclusion and the appointment of Jake White as director of rugby, Nonkontwana opted out at Loftus and has joined the Trailfinders, who play in the RFU Championship.

The club's director of rugby Ben Ward says he is delighted to welcome the former Junior Springbok to West London.

"Abongile is a fantastic player and someone we are very much looking forward to seeing in an Ealing Trailfinders shirt," Ward told the club's official website.

"He fits exactly what we wanted in terms of the calibre of player and also someone who can improve our squad. Being able to play in both the second-row and the back-row gives us great options, and with his ability around the pitch as well as his physicality, we see this as a very exciting arrival."

Nonkontwana says he is "grateful and excited" to head for England.

"This will be a new chapter in my rugby career, I intend to grab this opportunity with both hands and give my all to the club ensuring the greater vision and mission that has been put in place for Ealing Trailfinders.

"I know we will be working hard and giving our best to ensure our supporters are proud of us."

- Compiled by Sport24 staff