Cheetahs welcome back South Africa A centre Mnisi
30-year-old centre Howard Mnisi returns to the Toyota Cheetahs after previously playing for the franchise in Super Rugby. Mnisi was at the Cheetahs in 2013/14 while still contracted at the Griquas, but enjoyed limited playing time for the Bloemfontein-based team.
After leaving the Cheetahs, Mnisi, played for the Lions between 2015 and 2018. He joined the Southern Kings in 2019, but due to injuries he also enjoyed limited game time at the PRO14 franchise. During his time at the Isuzu Southern Kings, Mnisi played 6 matches and scored one try.
During Mnisi’s previous stint at the Cheetahs, the current head coach, Hawies Fourie, was an assistant to Naka Drotské.
In 2016 Mnisi was named in the South Africa ‘A’ squad for the two-match series against the English Saxons. He was named in the starting XV for the first match in Bloemfontein, and a week later he was on the bench for the second game which was played in George.
Mnisi starts at Toyota Cheetahs on 1 July on a two-year contract. Last week the Cheetahs signed Jeandré Rudolph on a two year deal.
The 26-year-old loose forward can play anywhere in the back row, and his play is tailor-made for the Cheetahs brand of rugby. He is solid in defence and over the ball.
“I am very excited to get the opportunity to move to Bloem and join the Cheetahs from the end of the year.” said Rudolph.
“The Cheetahs have been good over the last couple of years, winning the Currie Cup last year and performing well in the PRO14. That made my decision to join them a lot easier.”
Rudolph is a product of Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale and he played his junior rugby for the SWD Eagles before heading to Potchefstroom to study.
In 2016 Rudolph captained the North-West University Pukke to their first and only Varsity Cup title when they beat the University of Stellenbosch Maties 7-6 in Coetzenburg. Other Toyota Cheetah players who started for the Pukke in the final are Rhyno Smith, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Walt Steenkamp and Wilmar Arnoldi.
In 2018 Rudolph joined the Pumas and in that year they beat the Griquas 32-30 in Oudtshoorn in the final of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge. Rudolph was named as the man of the match in the final.
In 2020 he joined the Bulls on loan from the Pumas and played in Super Rugby for the Pretoria-based franchise.
“I got a little bit of experience at the Bulls in Super Rugby. I really enjoyed my time down in Pretoria, but I think that this is a great new opportunity for me to play against the best Europe has to offer week-in, week-out.”
“I am very excited and keen to get going. There are a lot of quality players at the Cheetahs, and with Frans (Steyn) and them all going there it is very exciting. I can’t wait.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments