Cheetahs 'load up' on new recruits for Sharks showdown

NEWS: Several new recruitments reported for duty at the Cheetahs, ahead of their important Super Rugby Unlocked clash against the Sharks on Friday.

Loose forward Jeandré Rudolph arrived from the Pumas, while the locks Victor Sekekete and Ian Groenewald joined from the Griquas.

Coach Hawies Fourie may well consider naming them for the trip to Durban, when he names his team on Wednesday.

The former Junior Springbok, Sekekete, told OFM Sport that joining the Griquas last year revived this career.

He featured in 17 games for the Golden Lions in domestic competitions, before he joined up with the Southern Kings in 2017.

He moved to Griquas last year.

“It’s definitely an opportunity that I have been waiting for,” Sekekete said.

“It’s an opportunity where I have been looking to play the brand of rugby that the Cheetahs play.

“The way Cheetahs has been playing is an exciting brand of rugby.

“Coming down all the way from Kimberley, I am very grateful for the opportunity I had there.

“If it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t have been seen.

“For what I have received at that side I am truly grateful because I was on the verge of stopping and going to focus on work or something like that.

“I am glad that I took the Griquas journey which led to the Cheetahs chapter that I’ve got now.”

The former Lions second row forward added that he is glad to move to Bloemfontein with Groenewald and he looks forward to continuing the partnership.

“Moving down with Ian [Groenewald] is one of the positives, as well because he is my lock partner and we played a lot of games together.”

“Personally for me moving to the Cheetahs is an opportunity that I want to use and expose. I’ve been waiting for a chance like this to showcase myself and what I am all about.”

Sekekete represented the Baby Boks at the 2014 IRB (now World Rugby) Junior World Championships in New Zealand, along with the likes of Handré Pollard, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel, André Esterhuizen, Warrick Gelant Thomas du Toit and Wilco Louw.

Source: @CheetahsRugby