Johan Coetzee commits to Cheetahs

Editor

Cheetahs tighthead prop Johan Coetzee has signed on for another two seasons despite intense competition from overseas clubs.  

Coetzee was named the Cheetahs' Super Rugby Player of the Year for 2017 and he has represented them in 51 matches so far. 

Coetzee was born in Windhoek and attended High Agricultural School Boland in Paarl. 

He made his Test debut for Namibia on June 6, 2015 in their 2015 Africa Cup match against Tunisia in Nabeul.  

Coetzee represented the Leopards U21s (2008 and 2009), and he played Varsity Cup rugby for NWU Pukke (2010). He made his first-class debut for the Leopards in 2010. 

After the 2010 season he moved to France, where he joined Top 14 side Racing 92 (2010-2012) before moving to Brive (2012-2015). 

Coetzee returned to South Africa to join the Free State Cheetahs for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division, but he missed the tournament through his involvement with Namibia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup where he played in four matches. 

"Johan is a player that I rate highly," Cheetahs scrum coach Daan Human told Sport 24.

"He is one of the hardest working players in the team and has an unbelievable work rate. If you look at the amount of tackles he makes and work on field, I rate him far above the average tighthead in South Africa."