In what was rugby’s worst kept secret, especially, in Bloemfontein, it is now official that the Toyota Cheetahs front-rower will be departing the City of Roses.

It is believed that 24-year-old is being lined-up as the successor to Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira in the Sharks front-row.

Nche, who recently won his second Currie Cup title with the Free State Cheetahs made his Springbok debut in 2018 against Wales in the one-off Test played in Washington DC, USA.

A move to the Sharks will further increase the players' chances of being selected for the national side in the future.

Earlier the Sharks also confirmed the contracting of the impressive Cheetahs loose-forward, Henco Venter.

Both Nche and Venter played a huge role in the Free State Cheetahs successful Currie Cup campaign.

While they will be moving to the Sharks, both will still be available to play for the Cheetahs in the Guinness PRO14 which kicks off on 27 September. This is they are both still under contract that the Cheetahs until the end of October.

The Cheetahs will host the opening match of the 2019/20 PRO14 when they tackle the Glasgow Warriors in Bloemfontein on the 27th.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport