OFM Sport has reliably learnt that the powerful scrummager received offers from two overseas clubs, but he will be plying his trade at the Leicester Tigers in England and at Edinburgh in Scotland.

De Bruin has penned a short-term seven-month contract at Leicester, from where he will be joining Edinburgh on a three-year deal.

The 115kg front-rower recently impressed at Newlands in Cape Town in the Springboks Green versus Gold match where he put the Bok loosehead, Steven Kitshoff, under heaps of pressure at scrum time, especially in the first half.

The product of Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in Pretoria has spent his entire career out of school in Bloemfontein, where he represented the University of the Free State Shimlas in the Varsity Cup, while he also represented the Cheetahs in the SuperRugby, Guinness PRO14 and Currie Cup.

In 2013, De Bruin, represented the Junior Springboks in four matches during the World Rugby Junior World Championships in France. In the third-place game against New Zealand, De Bruin, also scored a try for the BabyBoks during their 41-34 victory.

The Cheetahs stock at tighthead prop is a bit thin at the moment due to the ankle injury of the seasoned Namibian international, Aranos Coetzee. The Cheetahs did recently contract the Khutha Mchunu on a short-term deal from the Sharks. Mchunu recently made his debut for the Cheetahs during their 19-13 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

The Cheetahs recently bid farewell to Benhard Janse van Rensburg (NEC Green Rockets), Walt Steenkamp (Bulls) and Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).

Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that the loss of the De Bruin is no doubt a setback, but it does give other players an opportunity.

“It’s a big blow to lose a player of Luan’s stature. He has been at the Cheetahs for about eight seasons now.

“He stating coming into his own, and he starting owning the starting position with Aranos being injured.

“It will be a big setback for us, but luckily we’ve Khutha on loan from the Sharks for a whole season and he will be with us until October next year.

“Then we’ve got a short-term contract with the experienced Hencus van Wyk. He has played for the Sunwolves, Lions and the Bulls in the Super Rugby, so we’ve got quality backup.

“It will still be a big loss for the team to lose a player like Luan.”

De Bruin will be leaving the Cheetahs at the end of November and his last game for the team is expected to be in the SuperRugby Unlocked derby against Tafel Lager Griquas at the Toyota Stadium on the 21st.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport