The NSW Waratahs have moved quickly to bolster their halfback ranks for the next Super Rugby season with the acquisition of Cheetahs No.9 Sarel Pretorius.

Pretorius has signed as the Waratahs' senior foreign player and will be with the franchise for the next two years.

The 27-year-old will be a welcome addition to the squad who have lost starting halfback Luke Burgess to France for 2012.

He will join the Waratahs following his 2011 Currie Cup campaign in South Africa for Griquas, and is looking forward to heading to Sydney.

Pretorius has just completed his best season of professional rugby as the top tryscorer in the 2011 Super Rugby competition, equalling Bjorn Basson (Bulls) with nine tries.

"This is an exciting opportunity which was just too good to refuse," said Pretorius.

"When you play Super Rugby, you get to experience a lot of cities and my last two trips to Sydney have been really enjoyable.

"I had my best Super Rugby season so far this year, but I'd like to think that I am still improving as a rugby player, and I'm looking forward to developing my game further in Sydney.

A strong season in 2008 earned Pretorius a call-up to the emerging Springboks and he was drafted into the Cheetahs' squad.

He made his Super Rugby debut in 2009 against the Western Force.

Pretorius went on to play nine matches in his first season and earned selection in the Royal XV which played the British and Irish Lions.

The halfback has played every match for the Cheetahs over the past two seasons.

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