Overview
- The Cheetahs, which confirmed the signing Sunday, said the 34-year-old will move to Bloemfontein in June 2026 on a two-year contract.
- Japan’s Yokohama Canon Eagles confirmed his departure the same day, and de Klerk posted a thank-you after four seasons with the club.
- Team leaders praised his leadership and tempo-setting play, calling the two-time Rugby World Cup winner one of the franchise’s most significant arrivals.
- Coverage notes the Cheetahs compete mainly in the SA Cup and Currie Cup, with future European invitations unconfirmed, which could limit weekly games against top clubs.
- He attended a Springbok alignment camp earlier in 2026, and reports say he weighed offers from Sale and France but chose South Africa for family reasons and to stay on selectors’ radar after injury-disrupted seasons.