Promising Cheetahs prop packs his bags for the UK

The Cheetahs’ depth in the front row will be put to the test in the coming weeks.

This comes after confirmation that tighthead Luan de Bruin has been released from his contract to take up not one, but two opportunities overseas.

DE BRUIN HAS SIGNED TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS

According to the local OFM Sport website, De Bruin has penned a short-term seven-month contract at Leicester Tigers in England, after which he will be joining Edinburgh in Scotland on a three-year deal.

The 28-year-old front-rower recently impressed at the Springbok Showdown Green v Gold match at Newlands where he put the incumbent Springbok loosehead Steven Kitshoff under pressure at scrum time.

The product of Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in Pretoria has spent his entire career out of school in Bloemfontein, where he represented the University of the Free State Shimlas in the Varsity Cup, and the Cheetahs in Super Rugby, the PRO14 and the Currie Cup.

The Cheetahs’ stock at tighthead is a bit thin at the moment due to the ankle injury of the seasoned Namibian international, Aranos Coetzee.

However, the Cheetahs did recently contract Khutha Mchunu on a short-term deal from the Sharks.

Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that the loss of De Bruin is a setback, but it does give other players an opportunity.

“It’s a big blow to lose a player of Luan’s statue. He has been at the Cheetahs for about eight seasons now.

“He’s starting to come into his own, and he’s owning the starting position with Aranos being injured.

“It will be a big setback for us, but luckily we’ve Khutha on loan from the Sharks for a whole season and he will be with us until October next year.

“Then we’ve got a short-term contract with the experienced Hencus van Wyk. He has played for the Sunwolves, Lions and the Bulls in the Super Rugby, so we’ve got quality back-up.

De Bruin will be leaving the Cheetahs at the end of November and his final match for the team is expected to be in the Super Rugby Unlocked derby against Griquas on Saturday, November 21.