The Cheetahs have managed to secure the services of another former Grey College star, Lesley Botha, from French club Montpellier.
Botha turned out for Grey and Free State last year, but were part of a group off 22 schoolboy players who signed lucrative contracts with overseas clubs post-matric.
The centre had signed a long-term deal with Montpellier, but it has been confirmed that the agreement has come to an end and that he has now negotiated a two-year deal with the Cheetahs.
Botha becomes the third youth player, along with Marcell Muller and George Cronjé, who return to the Cheetahs from France having going abroad straight out of school.
‘I don’t regret coming back to Bloemfontein because I love the Free State and I grew up here. Having said that, I also don’t regret going to France, even though it was only for a short time,’ Botha told OFM radio.
‘I believe I can fulfill my dreams in the Free State and I am really excited to carry on with my journey here. I want to play for the PRO14 and Currie Cup, and I will give it my all to play for both teams as soon as possible.
‘I am ready to give my all for this country and I am never going to give up. I am going to play as hard as I can to play for the Junior Springboks and hopefully one day for the Springboks as well. I feel that if I stayed in France I would be giving up my chance to play for South Africa, and that is the last thing that I want to do. Playing for South Africa is my biggest dream.’
Photo: Morgan Piek
