Cheetahs must start anew after mass exodus

Bloemfontein - When the Cheetahs begin their next PRO14 campaign in the 2018/19 season, they will do so with a completely new group of players. 

That is the harsh reality facing the franchise from Bloemfontein, who were knocked out of the 2017/18 edition of the PRO14 in their maiden season on Saturday when they were hammered by the Scarlets in the quarter-finals. 

Super Rugby now seems like a distant memory for the Cheetahs, and things are about to change even more. 

In total, there are 11 players who are definitely on their way out of Bloemfontein before next season while coach Rory Duncan is also moving on. 

It means that, under the guidance of Franco Smith, the Cheetahs will have to start fresh. 

Captain Francois Venter and Duncan are off to join the Worcester Warriors in England while others to leave are Torsten van Jaarsveld (Bayonne, France), Fred Zeilinga (Canon Eagles, Japan), Carl Wegner, Reniel Hugo, Clinton Swart (all Verblitz, Japan), Uzair Cassiem, Clayton Blommetjies (both Scarlets, Wales), Tom Botha (Ospreys, Wales) and Niel Marais (Jubilo, Japan). 

A number of those players have been key to the Cheetahs cause over the course of this PRO14 season and it makes for uncertain times ahead. 

Johan Goosen, meanwhile, is off to Montpellier in France while there is still uncertainty over the future of flank Paul Schoeman.

"They say that you cry when you come to Bloemfontein and then you cry again when you leave it ... it is true," Venter was quoted as saying by Netwerk24.