Cheetahs 'loan' Namibian prop to Bath
TRANSFER NEWS: The Cheetahs and Bath have joined hands in a new partnership ahead of the Bloemfontein side’s return to Europe.
Tighthead prop Aranos Coetzee will be on loan to the Premiership club, Bath, from August 1 until November 15.
He provides a strong, experienced option at tighthead with D’Arcy Rae currently rehabilitating from injury.
Coetzee has European experience having plied his trade in France for Racing 92 and Brive over a five-year period before returning to South Africa, shortly after appearing at the 2015 World Cup.
“Aranos is still under contract at the Cheetahs and will be providing a backup while Bath’s tighthead is rehabilitating from injury,” Free State Cheetahs CEO Ross van Reenen said.
“The Free State Cheetahs is glad to allow him to play in the English Premiership.”
Aranos played in 132 games for the Cheetahs since he made his debut for the side in 2016 and has more than 25 caps for the Namibian national team.
The 34-year-old was awarded the Cheetahs’ 2017 Super Rugby Player of the Year for his outstanding contributions up front, and two years later he appeared at his second World Cup with Namibia.
For his country, 25-time capped Coetzee has contributed to five Rugby Africa Cup titles, the latest coming via a 36-0 win over Kenya at the start of July.
“Aranos offers fantastic experience in an important position,” Bath’s Head of Rugby Johann van Graan said.
“He is a very talented scrummager and is another who will bring a great amount of knowledge to our squad.”
The Cheetahs’ next matches will be in the Challenge Cup in October this year and Coetzee will be back in the Cheetah camp before the first EPCR match in early December.
More competition detail will soon be announced.
