DANIEL VAN DER MERWE has been handed the chance to carve out a career at Saracens after the Canadian wing was drafted in on a short-term contract.

The 21-year-old jetted in to the UK this morning where he will strengthen Sarries' injury-hit backline. Saracens are currently without backs Dan Scarbrough, Brent Russell and Francisco Leonelli to injury and Kameli Ratuvou who is still on World Cup duty with Fiji.

South African by birth, Van der Merwe moved to Canada in 2003 and played in all four of his national side's World Cup matches, even managing a try against Japan.

"He played an important role for Canada in the World Cup and he's someone who has been recommended to us by Glen Ella who both I and Richard Graham know very well," said Gaffney. "He's only coming in on a short term contract to cover because of the injuries we have, but he'll add numbers to the squad both in terms of matchday selection and in training. It's also a chance for him to show us what he can do.

"I saw him play against Japan in the World Cup and he had a decent game, handled himself very well and scored a try. He's also capable of playing at full back."