In rugby's version of musical chairs, World Cup Springboks Joe van Niekerk and Faan Rautenbach are set to switch provinces. Loose forward Joe van Niekerk has signed for Western Province (and the Stormers) next year, while Rautenbach is reportedly heading to the Lions (and Cats). The move of the 23-year-old Van Niekerk from Ellis Park to Newlands has been the subject of speculation for some time, but on Monday morning Rob Wagner, the Managing Director of WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd, confirmed the move. "I can confirm that Joe has signed for us," Wagner told Jan de Koning on Monday. "He is the type of player that fits into the Western Province pattern. He is a young man with a lot of rugby ahead of him. He is a very good signing for us." Lions Chief Executive Johan Prinsloo said that they expect Rautenbach to sign on Monday. "I expect a letter that he has accepted our offer. I was told on Friday that he is coming to us," Prinsloo said. Wagner said that nothing had been confirmed as yet, but his "gut feeling" was that Rautenbach would be heading north: "He has two contracts in front of him and has to make a decision." Van Niekerk, a mobile and tenacious loose forward, was nominated by the International Rugby Board (IRB) as one of their five Players of Year in 2002, narrowly missing out on the overall award. Van Niekerk's exceptional pace, anticipation and quality ball skills will be a huge asset to a skills-orientated province. He represented his country at four different levels in 2001: U21s, U23s, Sevens and at Test level.