OFM Sport has been reliably informed of the appointment of player as the side’s leader.

The exciting 24-year-old midfielder takes over the team’s leadership role for the Super Rugby campaign from lock Francois Uys who is currently in Japan playing his rugby for Toyota Verblitz.

Venter is going to be one of Smith’s and the teams most important players this season, following the departure of Willie le Roux (Sharks) and Cornal Hendricks (Stormers), leaving the team with no Springboks in the backline.

The new skipper had his first taste of international rugby last year after being selected in Michael Cheika’s Barbarians squad to tackle Gloucester and Argentina in England in November.

Furthermore, the player was called up to former Springbok coach, Heyneke Meyer’s national training squads ahead of the international season, however was unlucky to lose out on selection, largely due to being a green-horn in a World Cup year.

The Grey College old boy, who linked up with Cheetahs in 2013 after spending some time at the Bulls in the Jacaranda City, made more tackles in the 2015 Super Rugby than any other backline player, racking up an impressive tackle count of 169.

He also scored seven tries in the Super Rugby last season.Venter confirmed his appointment as the teams’ skipper and told OFM Sport that he is delighted to burden the responsibility.

“Yes – it’s a big privilege for me to captain the side. I think it comes with great responsibility as well as and for me CV it is good, but the team comes first, but I’m excited to lead the team.”

Venter added that there is a core of senior statesmen who he will learn from and can rely on when it comes to running the team.

“Franco and I did discuss the leadership team – it’s Lood de Jager, Boom Prinsloo, Oupa Mohoje, Torsten van Jaarsveld and Rayno Benjamin.

“I believe they are really strong leaders. Lood has real confidence especially with his outstanding World Cup campaign.

“Boom, Oupa and Torsten have all captained before, albeit it at least the Free State so I have great leaders behind me.

“Franco hasn’t mentioned who the vice-captain is yet, I think we’ll find that out at a later stage.”

Coach Franco Smith, will guide the team for his first full season as the team’s mentor after taking over from Naka Drotské for the last two games of the 2015 campaign.

Smith has made numerous changes to the team and at the franchise since his inception as the coach, however Venter’s appointment as captain is by far the biggest and most significant to date.

Venter's first task at hand will be lead the Cheetahs and against the new boys on the block - the Jaguars of Argentina in their opening match of the Super Rugby.

The Cheetahs kick-off their campaign on Friday, 26 February at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Morgan Piek /OFM News

Photo: Francois Venter - Johan Rynners / Gallo Images