This comes as the lock, Jean Drosté, has signed a two-year contract which will see him heading back to Japan when he will play for the Munakata Sanix Blues.

Drosté signed with the Cheetahs earlier in the year following the departures of Walt Steenkamp, Sintu Manjezi, Carl Wegner, Reniel Hugo, and JP du Preez.

Drosté told OFM Sport that leaving the Cheetahs will be bitter-sweet.

“I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play in Japan again, especially with my family coming with.

“Leaving the Cheetahs and Bloemfontein will be a bittersweet moment. I really enjoyed my time here playing rugby and the opportunity that the Cheetahs gave me to express myself on the field.

“It's going to be really tough to say goodbye to friends and family.

“I signed a two-year contract with Sanix Blues in Fukuoka which is in the south of Japan. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone on that side, but I am going to miss Bloem.

“Hopefully it's not a goodbye but rather a case of 'until next time'. Hopefully I can return to the Cheetahs one day to finish my career if everything works out.”

The sudden departure of Jacques Potgieter last month has put strain on the second-row department.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport