Namibian hooker Van der Westhuizen signs for Cheetahs

Namibian hooker Louis van der Westhuizen has penned a one-year deal with the Cheetahs, the SA rugby side announced on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Namibian international who is affectionately known as ‘Chucky’ previously captained the North-West University (NWU) Pukke in the Varsity Cup, and he also represented the Leopards while still in Potchefstroom.

In 2019, Van der Westhuizen won the Johan Claassen Trophy as the NWU’s Rugby Institute Player of the Year.   At the age of 18, Van der Westhuizen made his international debut for Namibia and has played in two Rugby World Cups since. In 2015 he played in the World Cup in England, and in 2019 in Japan.

Van der Westhuizen hopes that he will be able to draw on his international experience to make a difference at the Cheetahs.

“It is definitely a major step in my career and I am looking forward to joining the Cheetahs,” said Van der Westhuizen.

“I think that they are playing very exciting rugby at the moment and it going to be exciting to play with some familiar faces and old teammates from the Varsity Cup days.”

“I really think that I can use my international experience to add some value to the team, but I am very excited to be able to join a quality side that performs at the Pro14 level.”

Van der Westhuizen will report for duty at the Cheetahs on November 1.

Namibia has just 22 cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, with 14 recoveries and no deaths. The Southern African nation reported its first case of Covid-19 on March 14.

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo