All of these players were plying their trade for various teams in the Japanese Top League. Last week the league was cancelled in an attempt to combat the Coronavirus.

Numerous of the players were able to make their way back to South Africa, but it is believed that up to ten are still stranded in the Land of the Rising Sun, including the World Cup-winning Springboks, RG Snyman, Malcolm Marx and Damian de Allende.

Several former Toyota Cheetahs were able to get back to South Africa before the 21-day lockdown started last week, and they are Carl Wegner, Reniel Hugo, Clinton Swart, Rynier Bernardo and Duane Vermeulen.

To OFM Sport’s understanding, Wegner will not be heading back East once the all-clear is given as he will be resuming his career at the team where it all began for him.

It is believed that Wegner will re-join the Cheetahs and he will report for duty at the Bloemfontein-based franchise at the beginning of July.

Another former Cheetah, Lionel Cronjé, was not lucky enough to get a flight back home, and he remains in Japan along with Matthys Basson, Lionel Cronje, Jean Droste and Jason Jenkins, as well as, Snyman, Marx and De Allende.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport