Cheetahs scrumhalf Rudy Paige and Stormers centre JJ Engelbrecht have joined Top 14 side Clermont on short-term deals as World Cup jokers.

With Clermont set to be without up to 12 Test players for the World Cup, which takes place between 20 September and 2 November, they have recruited four players as cover.

Among those are Paige and Engelbrecht, who will play for the side for the first eight games of the season.

Paige is expected to cover for Scotland international Greig Laidlaw as well as Kevin Viallard, who is out with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Engelbrecht will cover for French international centres Wesley Fofana and Damian Penaud.

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