Ospreys are on the verge of signing a versatile South African star as Booth adds depth to the side

The Ospreys are on the verge of signing South African wing Daniel Kasende from the Cheetahs on a permanent contract.

Kasende spent a month on loan at the Ospreys at the end of 2023 and impressed enough for the Welsh club to try to bring him back permanently. WalesOnline understands the Ospreys were keen to sign Springboks wing Sbu Nkosi, but the 28-year-old has opted to remain in South Africa.

The Ospreys instead plan to sign Kasende, who will add some depth to the back three. Kasende, who can also play full-back, has plenty of pace and is a good finisher, while he is also defensively solid and reliable under the high ball.

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The 29-year-old will compete with the likes of Keelan Giles, Max Nagy, Harri Houston and Iestyn Hopkins, among others, for a starting spot in the back three. With Mat Protheroe, George North and Alex Cuthbert leaving the club at the end of last season, the Ospreys are in desperate need of strengthening the back three.

The Ospreys have a deal with the Cheetahs where both clubs loan players back and forth. Last season, Toby Booth’s side benefited enormously from this, with the likes of backrower Jeandre Rudolph, center Evardi Boshoff and second row Viktor Sekekete on loan, while Lewis Jones and Cameron Jones enjoyed some time playing in South Africa.

All four Welsh teams will operate with a salary cap of just £4.5m next season, but the wages in Wales are in most cases better than what is on offer at the Cheethas. The Ospreys have been cautious with their recruitment, bringing in Welsh-qualified lock Will Greatbanks, Wales number nine Kieran Hardy, Scarlets prop Steffan Thomas and powerful centre Phil Cokanasiga from Leicester Tigers.

It looks like Kasende will be their fourth signing for the 2024/25 season. In that season they hope to maintain their position as the strongest region in Wales, having reached the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship last time.