Dave von Hoesslin has played most of his professional rugby for Natal Sharks although he had a season on load to the Stormers and has also played for the Cats. He has played both Currie Cup and Super 12 games for the Sharks and was part of Nick Mallet's South Africa team in 1999 when he played five games (Italy, Wales, New Zealand and Australia) alongside Quins' captain Andre Vos.

After the South African loss against New Zealand he and fellow half-back Gaffie du Toit were criticised by their coach and he was dropped. This dented his confidence and it took him some time to break back into the Sharks team.

He has also played against another recent Quins signing, Geo Cronjé, both in the South African domestic competitions and also for a Namibia invitation XV against South Africa A.

He has been signed to give Harlequins more cover at scrum half.

"We're looking thin at half-back as we've only got Steve So'oialo and Simon Keogh, who's been playing on the wing," said coach Mark Evans.

"I asked myself if there was one area where an injury after the transfer deadline (on February 28) would really hurt us and that was it.

"We're not planning to make any more signings and I think we've got enough now to stay up."

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