The 2m tall, 115kg second-rower, is currently on the books at Western Province and has been named in the Stormers Super Rugby squad for the Southern Hemisphere tournament which kicks off this weekend.

As it stands, the Stormers boast with several top locks including the likes of the Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, as well as JD Schickerling, Chris van Zyl, Johan du Toit (brother of Pieter-Steph), Jan de Klerk and Ruben de Villiers (not in the Stormers Super Rugby squad).

The Springbok captain, Etzebeth, is out injured at the moment and it is expected that he will spend several months on the side-lines due to his shoulder injury. According to an OFM Sport source, this means that the 19-year-old Moerat will remain at the Cape-based franchise until Etzebeth has fully recovered.

It is believed that the former Boishaai and South African Schools skipper, Moerat, will be released to the Cheetahs in order for the player to get game time and experience in topflight rugby.

With the Carl Wegner departing to Japan at the end of the season and the expected departure of Reniel Hugo to Toyota Verblitz along with Wegner, this could be seen as a huge blessing for the Cheetahs.

With Francois Uys and Armandt Koster having left the central franchise in the past season, the second-row shocks are locking a little sparse at the moment. It must be said that the Cheetahs did recently sign the 2.09m tall JP du Preez from the Lions, while the journeyman, Rynier Bernardo, has arguably had his best game yet in an orange jersey during the side’s losing cause against the Cardiff Blues over the weekend.

Justin Basson, or Voete as he is known by his team-mates however will be the best second-rower and the team for the time being. Basson has proven to be one the Cheetahs most valuable players and is a first choice starter along with Hugo.

It is also believed that Moerat is in the future plans of the South African Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, hence the idea of the player set to gain some valuable experience in Bloemfontein.

The advantage of Moerat playing at the Cheetahs is that he will gain experience playing in European conditions as well, something that we be of immense value when it comes to high honours. Seeing that the Super Rugby and Pro14 are separate competitions a move like this will be alone. A prime example is that of the Province fullback / winger, Craig Barry, playing for the Cheetahs at the moment.

Another OFM Sport source believes that the idea of Moerat heading to the Cheetahs doesn’t sound so far-fetched.

“That doesn’t sound far-fetched, especially because they are losing Carl Wegner, Reniel Hugo and with Armandt Koster gone.

“Moerat is not getting game time in the Cape with the likes of JD Schickerling, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth and Chris van Zyl.”

Koster left the Cheetahs after a few rounds of the Guinness Pro14 to join the French Top14 outfit, Grenoble. He did, however, have his contract terminated by the club after is it was revealed in his medical that he has a neck injury. The player did undergo surgery in December in order for him to continue playing rugby.

At that stage, Koster told OFM Sport that his agent and he are weighing up his options. One of those options could be a possible return to the Cheetahs.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport