Cheetahs sign Sias’ replacement

The Cheetahs have found a suitable replacement for Western Force-bound flyhalf Sias Ebersohn.

Volksblad reports that Boland flyhalf Elgar Watts has signed a one-year contract with the Cheetahs and will join the Bloemfontein outfit in November.

27-year-old Watts formed part of the Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup training squad on a trial basis but nothing came of it as he was summoned back to Boland duty.  

Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie was pleased with their latest acquisition and said Watts is a perfect fit for the team’s attacking gameplan.

According to Fourie, they tried to retain Ebersohn on a deal similar to that of scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, which would see Ebersohn play Super Rugby for the Western Force and return to Bloemfontein for Currie Cup duty.  

“There was a possibility that Sias would return for the Currie Cup season but it didn’t work out,” said Fourie. “The Western Force appointed a new coach [Michael Foley] and he doesn’t want to release his players.”

Watts will be one of four flyhalves vying for the Cheetahs number 10 jersey in this next year’s Super Rugby tournament along with Springbok pivot Johan Goosen, Riaan Smit and Griquas ace Francois Brummer.

Meanwhile, prop Marcel van der Merwe has confirmed he has put pen to paper on a deal that will see him join the Bulls ahead of the 2013 Super Rugby season.

The 121kg front rower primarily plays at tighthead but will scrum down at loosehead for the third week this weekend, where he will likely be used at the Bulls.   

Regardless of which side of the scrum he is utilised, Van der Merwe will face healthy competition for a Bulls starting berth in Springboks Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger and promising prospects Dawie Steyn and Morné Mellett.