Swanepoel, who is contracted to the Bulls, recently linked up with the Irish outfit, Munster, on a short-term deal to help out with their injury crises in the midfield. The Munster coach, Johann van Graan, confirmed that the 25-year-old was only contracted to help out and that it was not a long-term deal.

The Delareyville-born player is no stranger to the Free State, as he was the head boy of Grey College, and also captained the school’s 1st XV where he formed one of the best schoolboy centre combinations to date with the Springbok and Montpellier midfielder, Jan Serfontein.

Swanepoel represented the Free State at Under 16 level during the 2009 Grant Khomo Week and at Under 18 level at the 2011 Craven Week. He did miss out on the majority of the 2010 season due to a serious knee injury. Both Swanepoel and Serfontein were named in the 2011 South African Schools team, where he was also the team’s vice-captain.

The pair both moved to the Bulls straight after school, where Serfontein started a highly successful career, however, for Swanepoel it has been a stop-and-go affair in the capital city. This is due to numerous injuries which plagued his professional career.

Many believe had injuries not hampered the career of Swanepoel, he and Serfontein would have been the current Springbok centre combination.

A high ranking official at Free State Rugby confirmed that the negotiations between the player and union were ongoing and until a week ago the deal was still fifty-fifty.

It has come to Courant’s attention that the contract has been signed and that Swanepoel will be reporting for duty in Bloemfontein as soon as 1 July 2018.

The powerful midfielder is deemed to be the ideal replacement for the former captain, Francois Venter, who greeted the Cheetahs to resume his career in England at the Worcester Warriors. Venter was a very special player indeed and it would take someone of the same calibre to replace him.

The Cheetahs team for the upcoming Currie Cup and Guinness Pro14 is starting to take shape slowly but surely and to date, the franchise has confirmed the signing of Aidon Davis, Walt Steenkamp, Louis Fouché, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Tian Schoeman, but to name a few. Apart from the contracting of Swanepoel, more signings will be confirmed soon.

The Cheetahs started with their preseason for the Currie Cup and the Pro14 last week Monday.

@MorganPiek OFMSport