Hold onto your hats, rugby fans! The Cheetahs have snagged a seasoned Bull by the horns, just in time for their EPCR Challenge Cup showdown starting this December. Jaco van der Walt, a former Scottish international with a knack for slicing through defenses, has trotted over to the Bloemfontein squad, ready to add some hefty firepower. With a resume that smells of grass stains from his days with the Lions and Edinburgh, plus a quartet of Test caps, this flyhalf isn't here to play games—well, except the rugby kind.
Since returning to his homeland in mid-2023, Van der Walt didn’t exactly set the field on fire at the Bulls, appearing in a mere six URC games. However, the Cheetahs are practically panting for a player of his caliber, especially with Tiaan Swanepoel benched due to hip surgery. The flyhalf cupboard was looking pretty bare with George Lourens only just shaking off his injury cobwebs, and Ethan Wentzel still out in the rehab wilderness.
"At flyhalf we are a little bit thin … we need a proper flyhalf here,"
Coach Frans Steyn spilled to OFM Sport, clearly relieved about landing Van der Walt. His arrival could not be better timed as the Cheetahs prep to tackle the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park come December 7th, followed by a dance with Stade Français in Amsterdam. The flyhalf is currently wrestling with visa paperwork, but hopes are high he’ll boot up in time for the European clashes.
With Van der Walt’s strategic nous and seasoned boot, the Cheetahs might just have found the missing puzzle piece to their ambitious Challenge Cup plans. While the paper trail sorts itself out, Cheetahs fans will be crossing fingers and toes alike, hoping that their new #10 can translate his experienced playbook into some much-needed wins on the international stage.
Teams to watch: Cheetahs face Exeter Chiefs and Stade Français in the upcoming matches.
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Hold onto your hats, rugby fans! The Cheetahs have snagged a seasoned Bull by the horns, just in time for their EPCR Challenge Cup showdown starting this December. Jaco van der Walt, a former Scottish international with a knack for slicing through defenses, has trotted over to the Bloemfontein squad, ready to add some hefty firepower. With a resume that smells of grass stains from his days with the Lions and Edinburgh, plus a quartet of Test caps, this flyhalf isn't here to play games—well, except the rugby kind.
Since returning to his homeland in mid-2023, Van der Walt didn’t exactly set the field on fire at the Bulls, appearing in a mere six URC games. However, the Cheetahs are practically panting for a player of his caliber, especially with Tiaan Swanepoel benched due to hip surgery. The flyhalf cupboard was looking pretty bare with George Lourens only just shaking off his injury cobwebs, and Ethan Wentzel still out in the rehab wilderness.
"At flyhalf we are a little bit thin … we need a proper flyhalf here,"
Coach Frans Steyn spilled to OFM Sport, clearly relieved about landing Van der Walt. His arrival could not be better timed as the Cheetahs prep to tackle the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park come December 7th, followed by a dance with Stade Français in Amsterdam. The flyhalf is currently wrestling with visa paperwork, but hopes are high he’ll boot up in time for the European clashes.
With Van der Walt’s strategic nous and seasoned boot, the Cheetahs might just have found the missing puzzle piece to their ambitious Challenge Cup plans. While the paper trail sorts itself out, Cheetahs fans will be crossing fingers and toes alike, hoping that their new #10 can translate his experienced playbook into some much-needed wins on the international stage.
Teams to watch: Cheetahs face Exeter Chiefs and Stade Français in the upcoming matches.