Ex-Baby Bok skipper 'finding his feet' at Stade Francais

Former Junior Springbok captain Jeremy Ward said he is "finding his feet" at Stade Francais less than a month after arriving in France before hosting Brive in the Top 14 on Saturday.

Ward, 26, led his country's under-20s side in 2016 and joined the Parisians in September after six years with the Sharks.

"I felt stepping into a new environment was something that could get the best out of me as a rugby player," Ward told AFP on Thursday.

"I've only been here three weeks but I'm starting to find my feet in the club," he added.

The midfielder has arrived in the French capital after a summer where the 14-time champions' stalwart in Fiji's Waisea Nayacalevu and ex-New Zealand centre Ngani Laumape left.

"The pink shirts stand out more than anything," Ward said.

"The club has such a rich history, it has an incredible background, it's known throughout the world so when they did come calling I was really excited by it," he added.

At Stade Jean-Bouin, the home to the outfit founded in 1891, Ward has teamed up with two former teammates.

Ex-Sharks lock JJ van der Mescht, who scored his third try in two games during last Saturday's dramatic late win at Pau arrived last season while scrumhalf James Hall is in his fourth campaign after signing his first senior deal with the Southern Kings alongside Ward.

"It's nice to be playing back with James," Ward said.

"We were room-mates the years after school and at South Africa's under 20s so we've come a long way. It's a cool reunion we have here," he added.

'Fired up' Brive

Ward has yet to make the set up to the Springboks' senior side and the Grey High School graduate said his focus is on his new side.

"All my energy right now is heading through Stade Francais, settling in, playing the rugby that I'm