RUGBY MUNSTER:MUNSTER HAVE made a serious statement of their intent for the coming season with the confirmation that South African centre Jean de Villiers has agreed to join the province at the conclusion of the Springboks' Tri-Nations campaign.

The Magners League champions made no secret of their search for a top-class midfield replacement for Rua Tipoki, who returned to New Zealand, and a statement yesterday announced the 28-year-old is likely to arrive in mid-September.

The 2008 Springbok player of the year is under contract with Western Province until October 31st, although Munster officials are confident he will be released early after stating his intention to the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) that he wished to further his career outside of the country.

De Villiers is expected to arrive before September 17th, ahead of registration of players for next season’s Heineken Cup.

Capped 48 times, de Villiers played in the opening two Tests of the recent Lions series before sitting out the final match with a shoulder injury.

Eleven of those appearances have come on the wing, but he has been a mainstay at inside centre over the last few seasons.

A former Under-21 World Cup winner, his introduction to international rugby ended after just five minutes when he suffered a major knee injury against France in November 2002.

He made a successful return, but injury has haunted him down the years. He missed the 2003 World Cup after injuring his shoulder in a warm-up game and played just 43 minutes of their successful 2007 campaign before he tore his left bicep in their opening clash with Samoa.

Despite the setbacks, he has shown considerable resolve during his career and was named both South African rugby player of the year and players’ player of the year in 2008.