THE Waratahs have scored a coup by securing Springbok forward Jacques Potgieter as their marquee signing for the next two seasons.

Potgieter, who appeared for the Bulls in their semi-final loss to the Brumbies two weeks ago, will join the Tahs early next year after finishing a season in Japan's Top 14 competition.

The 27-year-old is known for his physicality, and after an impressive debut season for the Bulls last year, Potgieter earned three caps for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.

Though Potgieter played mostly backrow for the Bulls, Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said he'd signed the1.94cm,115kg hardman as both a lock and flanker.

"In building our 2014 squad I wanted to profile one of our locks as a no-nonsense, hard and strong ball carrier and tackler, experienced and hungry to add these qualities to our squad," Cheika said in a statement.

"Jacques fits this profile perfectly and his experience in the back row also gives us extra quality in our forward depth.

"We have some excellent locks and back rows in our squad with different profiles and adding a quality recruit like Jacques to our team will definitely make for more competition within our squad, which should make us more competitive against our opponents."

Potgieter, who spent time with the Sharks and Eastern Province at Currie Cup level prior to joining the Bulls, said he was keen to play in Australia.

"I'm really looking forward to joining the Waratahs for Super Rugby and spending time in a great city like Sydney," he said in a Waratahs release.

"The Waratahs play a style of rugby that I really enjoy and I'm looking forward to working with Michael Cheika."

The Waratahs' last experiment with a South African recruit didn't end happily, with Cheetahs halfback Sarel Pretorius used sparingly by then-coach Michael Foley and released after one season.

Potgieter will spend his off-seasons playing in Japan, the Waratahs said.

Jacques Potgieter biography

Position: Back row/lock

Height: 1.94cm

Weight: 115kg

Date Of Birth: 24.04.1986

Place of Birth: Port Elizabeth

Rugby Career

Provincial Rugby Caps: 28 (Eastern Province)

Provincial Rugby Points: 45

Provincial Rugby Debut: 2009 v Border

Super Rugby Caps: 23 (Bulls)

Super Rugby Points: 20 (4t)

Super Rugby Debut: 2012 v Sharks

Test Rugby Caps: 3 (South Africa)

Test Rugby Points: 0

Test Rugby Debut: 2012 v England

Originally published as Tahs signing out of the Boks