Australia Under-20 scrumhalf Eddie Bredenhann have been signed by the Lions from 2012 to boost the squad's depth following the departure of Jano Vermaak to the Bulls.

"We get quality players to improve our depth, and at the same time we have made an investment in the future of our union," GLRU CEO Manie Reyneke said.

Bredenhann, who has a dual passport, is a big scrumhalf (91kg) who represented the Australian Under-20 side at the Junior World Cup in Italy this year. He plays for Sydney University, and as a member of the Waratahs academy was regarded as the possible successor to Wallabies scrumhalf Luke Burgess at the Waratahs Super Rugby team.

The decision to play for the Lions is indeed a big one for the 20-year-old. The former Australian schoolboy scrumhalf, who rates his greatest moment as being in the side that beat the New Zealand school side in 2008, is eligible to play international rugby for both Australia and South Africa – and the decision to join the Lions could be a watershed decision where he wants to try and play international rugby.