Ospreys Rugby are delighted to announce that Hanno Dirksen has signed a new two-year deal.

The 25-year old has put pen to paper on a contract that runs until 2019, following on from Sam Davies, Justin Tipuric, Dan Baker and Dan Lydiate (NDC) in committing his future to the region.

“I’m really happy to have been offered a new contract” said Dirksen.

“It didn’t take much thinking about to be honest, when the offer came I knew what I wanted to do. I’ve been in Swansea for seven years now and it’s my home, I have a wife and child born here, so why would I want to go anywhere else. If you’re in Wales, the Ospreys are the team to play for.

“I had a delayed start to the season because of my knee but I’ve been back playing a few months now and I’m enjoying my rugby, which always helps. There’s competition for places here, which is a good thing. We are doing well in the two main competitions and I’m looking forward to the end of season run-in and the next two years after that.

“It’s still quite a young squad, although we’ve been together a few years now, and I believe we can really push on together as a team.”

South African born Dirksen has been in the region since 2009, arriving here from his home town of Krugersdorp as an 18-year old, via Tennessee, USA, and Truro, Cornwall.

He made his Ospreys debut as a teenager in a LV= Cup defeat in November 2009. His only other appearance that season, against Leeds at the Liberty Stadium, saw him mark his first start with his first try.

Armed with his first pro contract, signed at the start of 2011, Dirksen established himself in the senior squad during 2011/12, scoring eight tries in 25 games as he played a big part in the region’s fourth league title success.

A fan’s favourite due to his physicality and eye for the try-line, he made his 100th appearance for the Ospreys last month, in a 29-7 win over Connacht at the Liberty Stadium.

His try at the weekend in the 23-25 reverse to Munster at the Liberty Stadium was his 32nd for the Ospreys, putting him fifth in the all-time list, just one behind Rhys Webb, with only Tommy Bowe (36), Nikki Walker (37) and Shane Williams (57) ahead of him.

Ospreys Head Coach, Steve Tandy, welcomed the news that Dirksen had signed a new deal, saying:

“Hanno is someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, which is a big reason why he is so popular with everybody at the Ospreys. He’s been with us a long time now and achieved so much, it’s very easy to forget that he is still only 25 years old.

“His physicality is a point of difference for us. Over the last 12 or 18 months we’ve been able to add some pace out wide, top end gas, but Hanno’s physical presence gives us a different blend.

“He’s matured in this environment and is a passionate Osprey, he desperately wants to succeed for this team. You can see that in everything he does. We are delighted that we’ve got him for another couple of years.”