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Cheetahs add 11 new players including probably the tallest man in rugby

By Online Editors
The Toyota Cheetahs (Getty Images)

Cheetahs have invested in former Bulls players as they prepare for the Currie Cup and Pro14 seasons – report Rugby 365.

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The Cheetahs have added 11 new players which include a few former Bulls players.

Bulls discard Rudy Paige has extended his stay in Bloemfontein until the end of October 2019 after joining the side this year.

While centre Dries Swanepoel also returns to Bloemfontein after five years with the Bulls.

Former Bulls flyhalves Tian Schoeman and Louis Fouche will also don the orange and white jersey for upcoming Currie Cup and Pro14 season.

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Schoeman returns to South African rugby following his short stint with French club Bordeaux and Fouche joins the Cheetahs from Japanese side Kubota Spears.

The other names on the list include Ruben de Haas, Sharks’ utility back Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Lions lock JP du Preez.

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Du Preez stands 209cm or 6’10.5″ tall. That’s half an inch taller than Ireland’s Devin Toner (6’10) and makes him the tallest professional rugby player on the planet currently.

While Toner is often cited at 6’11, he’s on record as claiming to in fact be 6’10.

JP du Preez dwarfs his teammates during the Emirates Lions training session in 2015.

The Cheetahs’ 50-man squad will officially be announced on August 14.

The Cheetahs open their Currie Cup campaign at home against the Blue Bulls on August 17, while they will face Munster in their first PRO14 match on September 1.

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New players:

Rudy Paige (scrumhalf, Bulls), Adriaan Carelse (fullback, Boland), Tian Schoeman (flyhalf, Bordeaux), Louis Fouche (flyhalf, Kubota Spears), Ruben de Haas (scrumhalf, USA), Dries Swanepoel (centre, Bulls), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (utility back, Sharks), Walt Steenkamp (lock, Leopards), JP du Preez (lock, Lions), Aidon Davis (loose forward, Toulon), Louis Conradie (lock, Boland).

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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