Saracens have signed South African Wikus van Heerden to replace Richard Hill, whose herculean efforts could not save the club from an 18-16 Heineken Cup semi-final defeat by Munster at Coventry.

The arrival of 29-year-old Van Heerden, son of former Springbok lock Moaner, allows Sarries to replace one World Cup winner with another and the 6ft4in Bulls flanker, who has 14 caps, will join fellow new recruits Steve Borthwick (Bath and England) and Michael Owen (Newport and Wales) in next year's squad.

More big signing are planned following an £8million cash injection from the club's new South Africa-based investors, which raises the distinct possibility of Bryan Habana, the outstanding Springbok wing, appearing at Vicarage Road in the near future.

Nigel Wray, the Saracens owner, believes the £8m investment will allow the club to join the scramble for the world's best players - who are heading to Europe from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

London rivals Harlequins, for example, are understood to have finalised plans to sign Nick Evans, despite the All-Blacks outside-half's demand for more than £300,000 a year.

"The strength of the European economy makes it natural for these players to want to come here," said Wray. "There is every chance a large percentage of the top players in Test rugby will be contracted to European clubs."

The capture of Van Heerden is a major statement of intent from Sarries, whose defeat yesterday and low league placing rule out a place in Europe's premier cup competition next year.

It could all have been so different, as they were denied a place in the Heineken Cup final against Toulouse in Cardiff on 24 May by what appeared to be a harsh last-minute refereeing decision.

The critical moment came when Welsh official Nigel Owens penalised Hill for not releasing the ball close to the opposition posts, rather than punishing Munster hands in a ruck.

But neither Hill nor director of rugby Alan Gaffney, who is leaving at the end of the season to join Leinster, would blame the referee.

Instead, they pinpointed earlier errors by a Sarries team that found a new level of performance after a couple of heavy defeats in the league. The fact that they somehow stayed in the match despite being reduced to 13 men through two yellow cards in the second half will be a source of pride.

Hill, who will play his final match at home to Bristol on 10 May, said: "It was very tough coming off knowing it was my last game at that level of competition. But after all of my knee operations, there was huge satisfaction that I proved I could still compete in that company."

Neil de Kock, the Sarries captain, paid tribute to Hill and Gaffney and then admitted: "It is gut wrenching to be in this position of being out of the Cup for at least two seasons."

London Irish look highly unlikely to qualify for the Heineken Cup through the Premiership by finishing in the top six.

They lost their semi-final 21-15 to Toulouse at Twickenham and now have two remaining league games against doomed Leeds and away at Sale to try and earn the right to appear in the Cup next season.