Cheetahs bring in four new players

David Skippers

Rhyno Smith of the Sharks during the 2019 Super Rugby match between Bulls and Sharks at the Loftus Versveld Stadium, Pretoria on the 09 March 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

The Cheetahs have bolstered their playing stocks after announcing the acquisition of four new players for their upcoming PRO14 campaign.

The Bloemfontein-based outfit have contracted Sharks utility back Rhyno Smith, Western Province loose forward, Chris Massyn and Griquas duo Chris Smit (centre) and Wilmar Arnoldi (hooker).

Smith will be heading back to the Cheetahs on a three-year contract after previously playing for them in the PRO14 during the 2018/19 season on a loan deal.

Massyn joins the Cheetahs on a two-year contract and usually plays on the flank. He led the University of Stellenbosch to 2019 Varsity Cup silverware. He has the rare distinction of captaining two Varsity Cup teams to the title after previously also leading the University of Pretoria in 2017. He has also played for the Blue Bulls and Boland Cavaliers. The 25-year-old is known for being destructive with ball in hand and difficult to deal with at the breakdown.

Smit, who joined the Griquas earlier in the year after winning the 2019 Varsity Cup with the University of Stellenbosch, will be joining the Cheetahs on a two-year contract. The centre, who can also play at fly-half, is cool-headed on the field and has a good distribution game which has caught the attention of many coaches in South Africa. He will be turning 24 in August and was named 2019 Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament.

Arnoldi, will also join the Cheetahs on a two-year deal from Griquas. He was a star-performer for North West University for three years before joining Griquas in 2017. During his time at university he also represented the Leopards in the Currie Cup First Division. In 2017, Arnoldi was named in the Varsity Cup Dream Team.

All four of these players are currently playing for their respective provinces in the Currie Cup and will link up with the Cheetahs at the conclusion of that competition.