SARACENS completed the signing of scrum-half and long-term target Neil de Kock last week after he was granted a work permit.

The 28-year-old South African international joins the Men in Black from Western Province and will arrive at the club this week.

De Kock, who who featured in ten tests for the Boks between 2001 and 2003, will fill the void left by Kyran Bracken, who retired at the end of last season after giving ten years' service to Sarries.

The Cape Town-born talent is an excellent passer and decision maker and will provide healthy competition for Sarries' other number nines Alan Dickens and Mosese Rauluni.

Sarries director of rugby Alan Gaffney was overjoyed to have finally landed his man. "We're delighted to have signed Neil," he said. "He's a player we have been interested in and he will be joining up with the squad next Wednesday.

"He's a very talented ball player and he's probably been unlucky not to have won more caps with South Africa in recent seasons. He's got a very good pass, is good from the base of the scrum and plays with a lot of direction.

"We're delighted to have him as part of the squad, and along with Alan Dickens and Moses Rauluni, who have both performed well in recent weeks, we will have strength in depth in the scrum half position."

De Kock made his provincial debut in 2000 for Western Province against Free State and a Super 12 debut followed a year later for the The Stormers against the Waratahs, and he has been a regular in both side ever since. He went on to win 50 caps for his previous side.