The Cheetahs have officially confirmed the signing of Pumas and Vodacom Bulls flank Jeandre Rudolph on a two-year deal from November.

Rudolph will link up with the Cheetahs from 1 November after putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Bloemfontein franchise.

The 26-year-old loose forward is comfortable across the loose trio, but was mostly used at blindside flank and eighthman for the Bulls this year.

Rudolph – who was schooled at Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale – captained North-West University to their first Varsity Cup title in 2016 when they stunned Maties in the final in Stellenbosch. He joined the Pumas in 2018 and helped them claim the Rugby Challenge title in his first year with the franchise and was named man of the match in the final.

‘I am very excited to get the opportunity to move to Bloem and join the Cheetahs from the end of the year,’ Rudolph said.

‘The Cheetahs have been good over the last couple of years, winning the Currie Cup last year and performing well in the PRO14. That made my decision to join them a lot easier.’

Though he is contracted to the Pumas, Rudolph joined the Bulls on loan for the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season and was starting to find his feet in Pretoria before the season was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rudolph said that the chance to play against some of the best European teams in the PRO14 – as well as play alongside Springbok veterans Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn – was too good to turn down.

‘I got a little bit of experience at the Bulls in Super Rugby,’ he said. ‘I really enjoyed my time down in Pretoria, but I think that this is a great new opportunity for me to play against the best Europe has to offer week in, week out.

‘I am very excited and keen to get going. There are a lot of quality players at the Cheetahs, and with Frans [Steyn] and them all going there it is very exciting. I can’t wait.’

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images