Stuck in the wilderness? No problem: These 3 signings prove Cheetahs still have clout

Despite the ongoing challenge of finding a more consistent source of international competition, the Cheetahs on Monday illustrated that they remain a destination where accomplished local players feel comfortable enough to ply their trade at.

In fact, they've even convinced a US international and Saracens halfback in Ruben de Haas to return to the Free State Stadium, where he laid the foundation for his move to the English giants despite his eventual game time being severely limited by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Such is the magnitude of the talent that they've been able to retain that some of them quite easily could lay a claim for squeezing into a URC franchise's squad.

News24 looks at the eye-catching recruits and retentions from the group of six players announced.

RUBEN DE HAAS

With Ruan Pienaar's illustrious career winding down - he turns 40 next year - and his understudy Rewan Kruger struggling to match the promise he showed as a Junior Springbok member for consecutive years in 2017 and 2018, the Free Staters not only need to plan for the future, but urgently create competition.

Twenty-four-year-old De Haas, who previously had a two-year deal curtailed, is familiar with the systems under head coach Hawies Fourie and boasts significant Bloemfontein roots with his father Peter and grandfather Gerard having played for the union too.

Jeandre Rudolph (Flanker)

Gideon van der Merwe (Flanker)

Ruben de Haas (Scrumhalf)

Rynier Bernardo (Lock)

Marnus van der Merwe (Hooker)

Louis van der Westhuizen (Hooker)

A compact attacking player with a underrated yet prodigious boot - he once kicked a 42m drop goal against Canada - De Haas would undeniably have learnt a lot from Saracens' prestigious and successful setup though that hasn't translated