Springbok flank Francois Louw has extended his contract at Bath until 2019.

Louw, who has earned 43 Test caps for the Boks and made nearly 80 appearances for Bath, confirmed on Tuesday that he would be remaining with the English club for the foreseeable future.

'I’m really excited to have extended my stay at Bath,' Louw commented. 'It is a great environment to be involved in, and also, importantly, my family are very happy and settled in the city.

'Everyone is committed to improving and being the best they can be here, and I’m looking forward to the next few years and playing my part in the club’s future.'

Bath coach Mike Ford said they were delighted to have re-signed Louw.

'Francois is one of the best players in the world. His playing ability speaks for itself, but he also brings huge amounts of leadership, experience and intelligence to the club off the field, which are invaluable as we continue to develop.'

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