The 22-year-old won the Currie Cup with the Cheetahs last month, which was his last assignment with the team before heading to Durban.

The Cheetahs are in the same pool as the Sharks for the EPCR Challenge Cup and they will be playing in a South African derby in Bloemfontein in December.

This match will be somewhat historic as it will be the first derby between two South African teams in the European competition.

Cronjé’s first game for the Sharks may well just be the derby against his former team.

Cronjé had been at the Cheetahs for quite some time, however, injuries led to limited game time, but it was only in the past year where he started showing glimpses of exactly why he was considered to be a schoolboy prodigy when he was the captain of Grey College.

His form over the past season also led to him being appointed as the captain for their Currie Cup game against the Pumas early in the competition when the bulk of the squad was in France for their Challenge Cup round of 16 clash against the French giants, Toulon.

The former SA Schools captain told OFM Sport that first he wants to focus on establishing himself.

“I saw the fixtures being announced and I'm very glad for the Cheetahs for getting a home game in the ECPR, and I think it will be quite big for them,” said the team's former captain.

“I haven't given it much thought because it is still a long way away and I have to go and settle in Durban. I'm only taking it week by week and it doesn't help for me to look too far into the future. 

“I'll be focusing on myself and the team and learning everything that I need to know.

“Hopefully I can get to play against the Cheetahs, but that is not in my hands. My job is to do my best and do everything I can for my team.”

Cronjé as well as the flyhalf Siya Masuku joined the Sharks for the coming season.

The Cheetahs and Sharks will battle it out on Sunday 17 December at the Toyota Stadium in round two of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport