The tighthead prop, Luan de Bruin, has signed a three-year contract extension with the franchise. As is a Rugby World Cup year, De Bruin, will have a big role to play in the world oldest domestic competition and during the opening rounds of the Guinness PRO14.

This will be as the regular starting tighthead, Aranos Coetzee, will be involved with Namibia’s World Cup preparations and their actual campaign as well.

The 26-year-old Affies old boy, De Bruin, along with the Cheetahs hooker, Jacques du Toit, are the longest-serving members of the current Cheetahs squad.

De Bruin joined the Free State straight out of school and played for the University of the Free State Shimlas in the Varsity Cup.

Injuries have plagued the early stages of the former Junior Springboks career, however, in more recent times has been relatively injury free and enjoyed extended spells of game time.

De Bruin's three-year contract extension is one of the longest at the Cheetahs, and along with the lock JP du Preez is one of the first players to put pen-to-paper for a deal of this time span.

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs scrumhalf, Shaun Venter, who also attended Affies will be leaving the franchise to join the Ospreys in Wales.

Venter has been at the Cheetahs since 2014 and has presented the union and franchise in well over 100 games in all competitions. With the knee injury to Oupa Mohoje in just the 18th minute of the Cheetahs 2018/19 PRO14 campaign, Venter was named as the joint captain of the team along with win Tian Meyer.

The departure of Venter will pave the way for the 35-year-old Ruan Pienaar to join the Cheetahs. Pienaar who was born and bred in Bloemfontein played his senior rugby at the Sharks, before playing 141 matches for the Irish province, Ulster. He played a handful of games for Montpellier in France before heading back to South Africa.

Pienaar, who like his dad, Gysie, was a Springbok, represented South Africa in 88 Tests. Pienaar’s return has not been confirmed, but the move may be finalised before Friday.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport