Rumours linking Oupa Mohoje to the Vodacom Bulls have not escaped the attention of the Cheetahs, but any such move would still come as a surprise to the Free State franchise. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
According to a weekend report in City Press, Mohoje has been spotted at Loftus and could be set for a stint with the Bulls as the Rainbow Cup looms on the rugby horizon.
Mohoje recently made a start for the Cheetahs in the Preparation Series clash with the EP Elephants, but meaningful game time has been few and far between for the Bok forward after a series of unfortunate injury troubles.
As it is, just last year Mohoje opened up about the relief he felt after extending his stay with the Cheetahs after signing a one-year contract extension, keeping him with the Bloemfontein-based side until at least 31 May 2021.
Prior to that, the future of his playing career had come under threat due a knee injury he suffered while captaining the Cheetahs against Munster back in 2018.
The injury ruled Mohoje out for the rest of the 2018-19 season and successive setbacks kept him out of frontline action for an extended period since then.
With the Cheetahs not in line to feature in the expanded PRO16, and considering his contract is set to expire in the near future, it would be understandable that Mohoje may be considering his options – having only turned 30 years old back in August.
According to a high-placed source, the Cheetahs have not heard anything definitive about a move to Pretoria for Mohoje, while SARugbymag.co.za has learned that there is no contract at this point at the Bulls.
However, it will be interesting to see if something does develop down the line as franchises continue to assess their squads ahead of entry into northern-hemisphere competition.
Just as interesting are recent reports also linking former Junior Springbok Jacques du Plessis with interest from the Bulls and Sharks, as he considers a return to South Africa in hope of pursuing his national ambitions.
Mohoje’s last Test for the Springboks was against Wales in Washington DC, where he started in a loose trio featuring Dan du Preez and Kwagga Smith.
