Oupa Mohoje, Ox Nche, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Reniel Hugo and Uzair Cassiem were all nominated by their respective positions after the team’s outstanding debut season. The Pro14 got the media from South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales to help with the process of voting for players to be shortlisted.

Unfortunately for the Cheetahs only Mohoje and Nche remain at the team. The Namibian international Van Jaarsveld joined Bayonne in France, while the Springbok, Cassiem, linked up with Swansea in Llanelli. Hugo took up a contract with the Japanese Top League club, Toyota Verblitz.

Mohoje, who will captain the Cheetahs this year was nominated for the as the best blindside flanker in the competition. He played in 16 of the Cheetahs games during the previous season and scored a brace of tries against Benetton Rugby in Treviso.

Nche, who earned his first Springbok captain in June against Wales in Washington DC, has been shortlisted as the best loosehead prop. The mobile front-rower, crossed the white-wash on three occasions last season and these tries came against Leinster, the Southern Kings and Cardiff Blues. On Tuesday evening Nche was named as the Toyota Cheetahs Pro14 Player of the Year during their official season launch.

Van Jaarsveld, lead the Cheetahs on a few occasions last season in the absence of Francois Venter and Neil Jordaan, who both captained the side as well. The live-wire hooker was one of the Cheetahs leading scorers in the competition and dotted down on six occasions during his 21 appearances. In the games against Zebre and the Ospreys in Bloemfontein, Van Jaarsveld, crossed for a brace of tries.

Hugo, was the leading lineout jumper in the competition and he beat his closest competitor in the department by a country mile. Hugo made 21 appearances for the Cheetahs last season and also scored a try against the Ospreys in Swansea.

Cassiem, only played 12 games for the Cheetahs last season and this was due to injuries and international commitments. Every single one of those games was in 2018 because of his involvement with the Springboks. This was enough to impress the future Welsh coach, Wayne Pivac. The Kiwi tactician managed to lure both Cassiem and Clayton Blommetjies to the Scarlets. Cassiem scored home and away tries against the Kings, as well as, tries against Cardiff and Connacht.

The Pro14 are yet to announce backline nominees and one cannot help but feel that had the Springbok winger, Makazole Mapimpi, and Blommetjies will be in the mix.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport