Cheetahs tighthead prop Luan de Bruin is reportedly set to leave the team at the end of November for moves to England and Scotland.

According to OFM Sport, De Bruin will be released from his contract at the end of the month in order to join the Leicester Tigers and Edinburgh.

The 28-year-old will join the Tigers in the English Premiership on a seven-month contract before linking up with Edinburgh on a longer-term three-year deal.

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De Bruin’s departure will come as a blow to the Cheetahs’ front-row depth, especially as experienced Namibia international Aranos Coetzee is still recovering from an ankle injury.

De Bruin has been in excellent form since the season’s restart, playing in the Springbok Green vs Gold match at Newlands, where he more than held his own against Steven Kitshoff.

The Cheetahs have managed to sign Khutha Mchunu on a loan deal from the Sharks and he recently made his debut against his parent club this past weekend. There is also Hencus van Wyk , who has plenty of experience from playing for the Sunwolves, Lions and the Vodacom Bulls.

‘It’s a big blow to lose a player of Luan’s stature. He has been at the Cheetahs for about eight seasons now,’ coach Hawies Fourie told OFM Sport. ‘He is starting coming into his own, and he’s starting owning the starting position with Aranos being injured.

‘It will be a big setback for us, but luckily we’ve Khutha on loan from the Sharks for a whole season and he will be with us until October next year. Then we’ve got a short-term contract with the experienced Hencus van Wyk. ‘

De Bruin could make his final appearance against Griquas in Bloemfontein on 21 November.

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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images