Koster joined the club in France following the Super Rugby, along with his former team-mate and Cheetahs captain, Francois Uys. Uys, who also plays lock, actually left the Cheetahs following their win over the Sunwolves in Tokyo when he famously converted the very final try from the touchline.

Koster did represent the Cheetahs during their heavy 51-18 defeat to Munster in Limerick during the Guinness Pro14.

A  scan revealed that a disc in Koster's neck was putting pressure on his spinal cord and this led to the player failing his medical and the club terminating his contract.

The player is back in South Africa and underwent surgery to his neck on Monday in order to repair the injury.

Koster told OFM Sport that he had the choice of undergoing surgery or retiring from the sport.

“With a scan, they picked up that one of the discs in my neck was putting pressure on my spine.

“It was quite a weird case, seeing that there was never really any pain. There only was pain every now and then when I took a knock to my neck.

“So, I didn’t pass my medical at Grenoble and the club terminated my contract.

“I had to undergo surgery, which I had on Monday. My other option was to stop playing.

“My agent and I are already busy exploring which options are available.”

The 27-year-old second-rower is the kind of player that really did the donkey work at the Cheetahs, Griffons or the University of the Free State's Shimlas. Never a flashy player, however, the kind of player that will be an asset to any team.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport