Former Cheetahs prop Hencus van Wyk will return to the Free State side as part of a massive recruitment and contract extension drive for the 2022-23 season.

Van Wyk, who is playing for the San Diego Legion in the US Major League, is due to link up with the Cheetahs on 1 July. The 30-year-old has also played for the Lions and Vodacom Bulls, as well as had several stints in Japan.

Also set to ply his trade in Bloemfontein from mid-year is Friedle Olivier, who has put pen to paper on a two-year deal. The Pretoria-born No 8 will join Hawies Fourie’s men from Enisei-STM in the Russian Rugby Premier League, where he has featured at lock and flank.

The Cheetahs, currently top of the Currie Cup standings after six successive wins, have also retained the services of hooker Louis van der Westhuizen and lock Victor Sekete, along with loose forwards Gideon van der Merwe and Jeandre Rudolph, for the foreseeable future.