American side San Diego Legion has confirmed the signings of Blitzbok Cecil Afrika and Springbok Bjorn Basson for the 2021 Major League Rugby season.
Afrika announced his international retirement following the cancellation of the 2019-2020 World Rugby Sevens Series and the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, San Diego Legion announced that the 32-year-old has agreed a deal to play for them in next year’s Major League Rugby tournament.
The club also recently unveiled Basson as one of their marquee signings for 2021. The 33-year-old wing earned 13 Test caps for the Springboks between 2010 and 2013, but plied his trade for Russian club Enisei-STM between 2019 and 2020.
? New player signing?
Welcome @AfrikaCecil to SD Legion & @usmlr!In 2011, Cecil was winner of the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year award. He was a member of the South Africa Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. ? #WeAreLegion pic.twitter.com/wHzadHHL2B
— San Diego Legion (@SDLegion) October 1, 2020
? New San Diego Legion signing…
Join us in welcoming former Springboks player, Bjorn Basson, to #SanDiego!Explosive, skillful and an expert finisher, Bjorn’s finesse and pace will be perfectly suited for our team and the @usmlr competition. ?#WeAreLegion #YouKnowRugby pic.twitter.com/eI36i5ASZr
— San Diego Legion (@SDLegion) September 29, 2020
Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
