The 25-year-old Namibian international previously captained the North-West University Pukke in the Varsity Cup, and he also represented the Leopards while still in Potchefstroom.

He was born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia, and matriculated at the Hoërskool Windhoek.

At the age of 18, Van der Westhuizen made his international debut for Namibia and has played in two Rugby World Cups since. In 2015 he played in the World Cup in England, and in 2019 in Japan. To date he has scored six tries in 19 Tests for his national team.

In 2019, Van der Westhuizen won the Johan Claassen Trophy as the NWU’s Rugby Institute Player of the Year.

He will be the second Namibian international hooker to play for the Cheetahs following Torsten van Jaarsveld who donned the orange-and-white from 2013 to 2018. Van Jaarsveld is now plying his trade at Bayonne in France. His international teammate, Aranos Coetzee, is also currently contracted at the Cheetahs.

Van der Westhuizen told OFM Sport that he is looking forward to making the move to the Cheetahs and hopes to part with some of his international experience.

“It is definitely a major step in my career and I am looking forward to joining the Cheetahs.

“I think that they are playing very exciting rugby at the moment and it's going to be exciting to play with some familiar faces and old teammates from the Varsity Cup days.

“I am really blessed to get the opportunity and I am really looking forward to moving to Bloemfontein.

“I really think that I can use my international experience to add some value to the team, but I am very excited to be able to join a quality side that performs at PRO14 level.

Van der Westhuizen will report for duty at the Cheetahs on 1 November.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport