GLAMORGAN have signed South Africa opener Jacques Rudolph for the next two seasons.

The 32-year-old has previously played for Surrey and Yorkshire and will replace Australian Marcus North at the Swalec Stadium.

Left-hander Rudolph has played 48 Tests and 45 one-day internationals for South Africa and he has been a top performer in county cricket, averaging 52.20 when scoring 5,429 runs for Yorkshire.

He said: “I enjoyed my time playing for Yorkshire so I’m looking forward to the challenge at Glamorgan and hopefully enjoying similar success.”

Hugh Morris, who will join Glamorgan as chief executive and director of cricket next year, said: “Signing a player of Jacques Rudolph’s undoubted capabilities and experience is a great boost ahead of the new season.

“With an increasingly heavy first-class schedule it will be a huge advantage to have a world-class opening batsman available to us. I look forward to welcoming Jacques to Glamorgan.”

Rudolph is currently playing Champions League cricket in India for the Titans.