Waratah prop Gareth Hardy will join Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon in the front row of the Western Force in next year's Super 14.
Hardy, a former Australian Schoolboy, has played 12 matches for the Waratahs in the Tooheys New Super 12 after making his debut last year.
The 24-year-old product of St Joseph's College and Sydney University can also play hooker if required, so he will offer Western Force coach John Mitchell great versatility in the front row. "He is young for a front rower and has plenty of years of good Rugby in front of him," Mitchell said. "The fact that he can play loosehead prop and hooker makes him a valuable addition to the team because it will provide us with greater flexibility in selection.
"Any player who can play more than one position, especially in the forwards, is giving themselves a head start. He has taken his opportunities as a loosehead prop this year and shown his abilities for the Waratahs against the big South African packs.
"While his number one priority is his set piece, his all round skills have really been improving including his ball carrying, his tackling and his work rate.
Hardy said he was looking forward to joining fellow forwards Nathan Sharpe and David Pusey as well as Waratah team mate Brendan Cannon in the new team.
"It is a big decision to leave the Waratahs, because this is where I have developed my Rugby. But with quality Test props like Matt Dunning and Al Baxter in front of me, I see the Western Force as an opportunity to gain more experience and more match time at the Super 14 level.
"Sitting down with John Mitchell and hearing his ideas and philosophies was really impressive. It is clear that he has a thorough understanding of the modern game and a clear vision for where he wants to take the new team.
"The opportunity to move to Perth and experience the great lifestyle over there is a bonus.
"Having said that, I am totally focused on the Waratahs and our Super 12 campaign at the moment. Now that I have made this decision, I will be tucking it away and concentrating on the crucial matches we have coming up over the next three weeks."