Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has received an offer to coach Italy from January 2020.

It would be a hammer blow for the franchise to lose Smith as they have just started rebuilding after losing a core of senior players, as well as former coach Rory Duncan after the 2017-18 Pro14 season.

‘The situation will be handled at the highest level with the board of directors of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd,’ the Cheetahs said in a statement on Saturday.

‘Management wish to assure stakeholders, suite holders and supporters that the coaching structures will be properly structured to ensure success.

‘Management of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd will swiftly deal with the situation and the board of directors will see to it that the Cheetah teams perform at the highest levels in all the competitions that they participate in.’

Photo: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency/Gallo Images