Coetzee took over the role in 2018 after stepping down as the Springbok coach following a trying stint in charge of the national team.

The Japanese outfit confirmed the news via a statement on Tuesday morning.

The statement also confirmed that the former Cheetahs lock, Barend Pieterse, who was serving as the forwards coach, left the team.

The Virginia-born Pieterse who finished his playing career at the Eastern Province Kings also coached at the team from Port Elizabeth before joining Coetzee’s staff in 2018.

In addition to Coetzee and Pieterse leaving the Eagles, the club also confirmed that the two former Cheetahs players, Fred Zeilinga and Rynier Bernardo, will be leaving.

At the Cheetahs, the flyhalf Zeilinga played during the teams’ inaugural season in the Guinness PRO14. Zeilinga impressed enough to warrant selection for the South Africa A team which played in a two-match series against the French Barbarians.

The second-rower, Bernardo, joined the Cheetahs from the Welsh club and then defending PRO14 champions, Scarlets. He did, however, play second fiddle to Reniel Hugo, who was the leading lock in the competition during the Cheetahs first season in the PRO14.

Hugo left the Cheetahs at the same time as Bernardo, but he joined the Japanese outfit, Toyota Verblitz, along with Carl Wegner.

Wegner will, however, be running out for the Cheetahs again next season. To OFM Sport’s knowledge, Hugo, is also set for a departure from Verblitz, however this has not been confirmed.

If will be interesting to see if the Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, will be looking at bringing players such as Zeilinga and Bernardo back to Bloemfontein, and even someone with the pedigree of Hugo.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport