Ryan Kankowski joins Lions ahead of Currie Cup

Loose forward Ryan Kankowski will join the Lions for the 2017 Currie Cup tournament.

The Lions will be light on loose forwards during the Currie Cup, with Boks Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel set to join Japanese clubs after the Rugby Championship and Warwick Tecklenburg, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

31-year-old Kankowski last played Currie Cup rugby for the Sharks in 2015, has been drafted by the Lions to fill that void and to bring in much-needed experience to the back row.

He is contracted to the Johannesburg union for the duration of the Currie Cup and it is unclear whether his contract will be extended at a later stage.