The Free State Cheetahs' Currie Cup team will play Toyota Verblitz in Japan on 23 July.

The match, which has been arranged as part of a partnership between the sides (who share the same sponsor), will serve as preparation for the Cheetahs’ Currie Cup campaign.

They have also welcomed two Japanese players from the Top League club to Bloemfontein, prop Yosuke Takahashi and fullback Yoshizumi Takeda, on a three-month deal.

Cheetahs lock Francois Uys was the first player to be exchanged as part of the partnership when he joined Verblitz at the end of last year.

Takahashi and Takeda have already started training with the squad for the Currie Cup qualifying round that starts in April, but Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has not ruled out the possibility of them playing Super Rugby.

Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images