Cheetahs in ground-breaking deal
Two-time World Cup-winning Springbok Os du Randt will join Japanese club Verblitz in a new deal with the Cheetahs.
It was announced on Saturday that the two teams – the Cheetahs from Bloemfontein and the Verblitz side fro Aichi in Japan – will exchange personnel.
The deal, established through the motor vehicle company that sponsors both teams, will see Du Randt become the forwards and scrum coach of Verblitz – as a first step of the partnership.
Following the exodus of South African players to Japan in recent years, this has been identified as an opportunity for both teams to foster talent.
It will see selected players and coaches being utilised – with players given the opportunity to play in Japan for the Verblitz club during their regular season (South Africa's Currie Cup season) and return to play Super Rugby for the Cheetahs.
One of the main benefits of the programme include the joint contracting of players from outside the Cheetahs squad.
There is also the prospect of contracts in Japan for players who traditionally would not be considered.
Furthermore, an exchange programme for coaches as well as offering the opportunities for the development of Japanese players in South Africa.
Du Randt will be travelling to Japan in early June to join Verblitz, on a two-year contract, whilst acting as an ambassador for the Cheetahs.
This move will not only afford Verblitz the opportunity to work with one of the best forward and scrum coaches in the world, but will also give the Cheetahs the advantage of having an ambassador in Japan that can assist with contracting and the exchange of players between the two teams.
Currently, the two parties have started some discussions regarding the recruitment of players, inside and outside of the Cheetahs squad, to join the programme and have extended an invitation to a few Japanese players to join the Cheetahs during the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup season.
Coaches from the Cheetahs and Verblitz will also be travelling between Japan and South Africa to assist with various areas of coaching, structures and skills development.
Japan will be hosting the World Cup in 2019.
Verblitz – a company-owned team with players who are full-time employees of – is a Japanese Rugby Union team participating in the Japanese Top League and this collaboration with another funded team will contribute to strengthening the team's performance and uplift the standard of Japanese rugby.
"Without the sponsor, this Japan exchange programme would only be a dream," Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs said.
However, the this dream is now a reality for the Cheetahs.
"This unique relationship we believe will change the future of player movement between South Africa and Japan."
