Cheetahs star to make a splash in Bath

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English Premiership club Bath have snapped up a top campaigner from the Free State Cheetahs on a short-term deal for next season.

Cheetahs tighthead prop Aranos Coetzee is set to join the English outfit on a three-month deal from the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

Coetzee, who has played 132 games for the Free Staters, will be with Bath from 1 August until 15 November 2022.

The 34-year-old has European experience in France with Racing 92 and Brive over a five-year period before returning to South Africa, shortly after representing Namibia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

“Aranos offers fantastic experience in an important position,” said Bath’s head of rugby Johann van Graan.

“He is a very talented scrummager and is another who will bring a great amount of knowledge to our squad.”

ALSO: Van Graan scoops up Saffa for Bath

Cheetahs chief executive Ross van Reenen added: “Aranos is still under contract at the Toyota Cheetahs and will be providing a backup while Bath’s tighthead is currently rehabilitating from injury.

“The Free State Cheetahs is glad to allow him to play in the English Premiership.”

Van Graan this week acquired another seasoned South African player in preparation for his first season at the club.

Able to play across the back five of the scrum, GJ van Velze has made more than 100 Premiership appearances after spells with Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors.

Former Kings and Western Province openside flank Chris Cloete has already followed Van Graan to Bath from Munster for the new season.

Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

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Devin Hermanus