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Cheetahs add 11 new players including probably the tallest man in rugby

The Toyota Cheetahs (Getty Images)

Cheetahs have invested in former Bulls players as they prepare for the Currie Cup and Pro14 seasons – report Rugby 365.

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The Cheetahs have added 11 new players which include a few former Bulls players.

Bulls discard Rudy Paige has extended his stay in Bloemfontein until the end of October 2019 after joining the side this year.

While centre Dries Swanepoel also returns to Bloemfontein after five years with the Bulls.

Former Bulls flyhalves Tian Schoeman and Louis Fouche will also don the orange and white jersey for upcoming Currie Cup and Pro14 season.

Continue reading below…

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Schoeman returns to South African rugby following his short stint with French club Bordeaux and Fouche joins the Cheetahs from Japanese side Kubota Spears.

The other names on the list include Ruben de Haas, Sharks’ utility back Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Lions lock JP du Preez.

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Du Preez stands 209cm or 6’10.5″ tall. That’s half an inch taller than Ireland’s Devin Toner (6’10) and makes him the tallest professional rugby player on the planet currently.

While Toner is often cited at 6’11, he’s on record as claiming to in fact be 6’10.

JP du Preez dwarfs his teammates during the Emirates Lions training session in 2015.

The Cheetahs’ 50-man squad will officially be announced on August 14.

The Cheetahs open their Currie Cup campaign at home against the Blue Bulls on August 17, while they will face Munster in their first PRO14 match on September 1.

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New players:

Rudy Paige (scrumhalf, Bulls), Adriaan Carelse (fullback, Boland), Tian Schoeman (flyhalf, Bordeaux), Louis Fouche (flyhalf, Kubota Spears), Ruben de Haas (scrumhalf, USA), Dries Swanepoel (centre, Bulls), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (utility back, Sharks), Walt Steenkamp (lock, Leopards), JP du Preez (lock, Lions), Aidon Davis (loose forward, Toulon), Louis Conradie (lock, Boland).

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J
JW 35 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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