Northampton Saints loose-head prop Jordan Els has signed a contract until the end of the season with the reigning Prem champions after impressing on trial.

Els signed a short-term contract at Franklin’s Gardens in the summer after leaving Harlequins for whom he played 58 matches across seven seasons.

The 29-year-old South African has already featured this season for Northampton off the bench in their battling 28-12 victory over Cardiff in the Champions Cup and started Saints’ 29-14 defeat by former club Quins in the Prem Rugby Cup.

“We were looking for cover in the front row and, having bounced back from a period of injury of his own at Harlequins, Jordan was looking for a chance to get back playing consistently and show what he could do,” Saints’ director of rugby Phil Dowson said., external

“Jordan is a hard worker, he drives high standards every day, and he’s embraced the opportunity here from the moment he arrived.”