The impressive second-rower will also be plying his trade at Toyota Verblitz, who recently signed his Cheetahs lock, Carl Wegner, and the versatile back-line player, Clinton Swart.

The side is coached by the World Cup winning Springbok coach, Jake White. As is the case during his tenure at the French Top 14 club, Montpellier, White has brought in a heavy South African flavour with no less than seven signings, including the three Cheetahs.

The South Africans who are already at the club are Lionel Cronjé, Gio Aplon, Ruan Smith and Jason Jenkins.

At this stage it will appear that Hugo and Swart will be returning to compete in the next season of the Pro14, however, with the competitions overlapping, it could mean that they will likely miss the start of the European campaign.

It expected that Wegner, who has just become a dad for the first time, will not be returning to the City of Roses.

Hugo is currently the leading lock in the Pro14. He is miles ahead of his nearest challenger in lineouts won with a tally of 66. The Australian-born Scottish international and Edinburgh lock, Ben Toolis, is the closest challenger to Hugo, with 45 lineout wins, a massive margin of 21 lineout wins difference between the two.

Recently the former Springbok, Cheetah and Toulon legend, Juan Smith, called quits on his career after a brief stint at Verblitz. The former Cheetahs captain, Francois Uys, played for the club during a brief loan spell, however, he is playing for the French club, Grenoble, now.

The double World Cup winning Springbok prop and Free State legend, Os du Randt, also enjoyed a spell at Verblitz, where he was the team’s forwards coach.

The tighthead prop, Tom Botha, is also believed to be heading overseas, however, at this stage the player is linked with a move to either Cardiff Blues or Ospreys (both Wales), or the English outfit, Leicester Tigers.

It is believed that the Springbok flank, Uzair Cassiem, has already signed a deal with Toulon in France.

There are a couple of more names linked with moves to clubs overseas when it comes to the end of the Pro14, but this could be influenced by Springbok call-ups for the three-Test series against England and the Rugby Championship.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport