Cheetahs in contract ‘negotiations’ to keep Pienaar, Steyn

The Cheetahs are fighting hard to keep stalwarts Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn on their books beyond this season.

The seasoned backline players, who are both World Cup winners from 2007 and in Steyn’s case 2019 as well, have been key figures for the Bloemfontein-based side over the last two years.

While both men are now seemingly settled in Bloemfontein with their families, the Cheetahs are yet to announce they will continue to play for the team after this season’s Currie Cup.

The Cheetahs are the form team in the Currie Cup with six wins from six outings.

In the last two weeks the Cheetahs have announced a raft of players who’ve re-committed to the union, but Pienaar and Steyn have not been on any lists.

“Hawies (Fourie, the Cheetahs coach) is still busy with negotiations,” a spokesperson told The Citizen.

“We hope to make an announcement about them soon.”

Up-and-coming flyhalves Siya Masuku and Reinhardt Fortuin have extended their contracts with the union, as have centres David Brits and Evardi Boshoff.

Exciting outside back Cohen Jasper, who was the 2021 Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, is also staying on in Bloemfontein, as is winger Daniel Kasende.

Other players to extend their deals include scrumhalf Brenden de Kock, Louis van der Westhuizen (hooker), Victor Sekete (lock), Gideon van der Merwe (flanker) and Jeandre Rudolph (flanker).

Friedle Olivier, a back-row player from Russian Rugby Premier League side, Enisei-STM, is also headed to Bloemfontein in July, while prop Hencus van Wyk, who currently plays for San Diego Legion in the US will also turn out for the Cheetahs from 1 July.

Pienaar (38) joined the Cheetahs in 2019 after previously playing for the Sharks, Ulster in Ireland and Montpellier, while Steyn (34) joined the Cheetahs in 2020 after also turning out for the Sharks, Racing Metro in France, Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan and Montpellier, also in France.