Cheetahs lifeline for 'retired' prop
CONTRACT NEWS: Seasoned front row forward Schalk Ferreira has joined the Cheetahs on a two-year deal.
Ferreira will link up with the Cheetahs just days before his 37th birthday, but despite his age, the prop will bring a lot to the Cheetahs, especially experience.
Ferreira is a product of Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and has previously represented Western Province, Stormers, Eastern Province, Southern Kings and Toulouse in France.
In 2002 he was included in the South African Schools team, and also represented South Africa at Under-19 and Under-21 level.
In 2014, Ferreira played for the World XV against the Springboks at Newlands in Cape Town.
The 115kg front-rower retired from the game in 2009 due to a serious neck injury, but in 2012 he came out of retirement.
After being out of a contract for ten months, Ferreira says that joining the Cheetahs is the right move and he has a hunger to win trophies.
“I signed a two-year contract at the Cheetahs. My family and I are extremely glad and we feel really blessed.
“I trained for ten months without knowing whether there will be another year or two in my rugby career, but I have lived my life as if there would be.
“The next two years will be extremely important for me. I still want a bite of the apple and I still feel that I have a lot to give, and my body still feels really good.
“I told coach Hawies [Fourie] that I want to compete for cups again and I think that the Free State is going to give me that opportunity.
“I know a couple of the group that I played with before, some of the senior guys like Ruan [Pienaar] and Frans [Steyn]. I am really excited to be a part of the Cheetahs and the culture of the team.
“My family is also looking forward to it. My little boy is going to grade one now and my wife has a couple of friends up there in Bloemfontein.”
Ferreira will report for duty at the Cheetahs for the start of the preseason on Wednesday.
