Ruben de Haas in Cheetahs squad for Pro 14 and Currie Cup

US Eagles scrumhalf Ruben de Haas has been named in a combined Free State Cheetahs squad for the Guinness Pro 14 and Currie Cup. The 19-year-old signed a senior Cheetahs contract through the end of the 2020 Currie Cup season in June having graduated from their academy program.

Head coach Franco Smith has opted to name one squad with the Currie Cup set to end in the last week of October. It’s most likely there that de Haas will start his season with the Pro 14 given priority in the new structure. Of the seven scrumhalves named in the group four have Super Rugby experience with Springbok cap Rudy Paige set to be first choice in the Pro 14.

Another Springbok – flanker Oupa Mohojé – will captain the side that also features new cap Ox Nché. Other notables include Namibia international prop Aranos Coetzee and a dozen players who have represented South Africa at age grade level including hooker Joseph Dweba, loose forward Aidon Davis, and utility three quarter Lloyd Greeff.

FORWARDS
Aranos Coetzee, Luan de Bruin, Erich de Jager, Günther Janse van Vuuren, Johan Kotze, Charles Marais, Ox Nché, Boan Venter, Quintin Vorster, Jacques du Toit, Joseph Dweba, Elandre Huggett, Rienach Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, Jannes Snyman, Justin Basson, Louis Conradie, JP du Preez, Sibabalo Qoma, Walt Steenkamp, Dennis Visser, Aidon Davis, Niell Jordaan, Stephan Malan, Daniel Maartens, Oupa Mohojé (capt.), Gerhard Olivier, Junior Pokomela, Ntokozo Vidima, Jasper Wiese, Luigi van Jaarsveld

BACKS
Dian Badenhorst, Ruben de Haas, Tian Meyer, Zee Mkhabela, Rudy Paige, Ruan van Rensburg, Shaun Venter, Tian Schoeman, Ryno Eksteen, Louis Fouché, Niell Stannard, Ernst Stapelberg, Lloyd Greeff, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Tertius Kruger, Nico Lee, Ali Mgijima, William Small-Smith, Dries Swanepoel, Adriaan Carelse, Carel-Jan Coetzee, Malcolm Jaer, Vuyani Maqina, Rabz Maxwane