Struggling Super 14 team the Lions have secured an early return for former captain Wikus van Heerden from English club Saracens.

Saracens announced on Thursday they had agreed to a request by the Lions to release flanker Van Heerden with immediate effect.

Van Heerden is a former captain of the Johannesburg team, formerly known as the Cats, and was part of South Africa's World Cup-winning squad in 2007. He left South Africa to join Saracens in 2008.

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter said "Wikus has produced many outstanding performances for Saracens."

The 31-year-old backrow forward will join up with the Lions when the squad returns home from New Zealand on Monday. The Lions have not won a Super 14 game this season.

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