The gentle giant from Fickburg is a product of the rugby factory, Grey College in is also a former Junior Springbok who in 2011 in Italy ran in two tests for due Baby Boks during the under-20 rugby world cup. However, Wegner will play for the Cheetahs for the fourth time and has previously also played for Stade Francais in the French Top14, as well as for Toyota Verblitz in the Japanese Top League.

The best description for the lock is that he is without a doubt a stalwart, and he does his job on the field. Although Wegner has never been a player who is flamboyant on the field, he is without a doubt the type of player whose name one always writes down first on the team list.

The Cheetahs' forward coach, Izak van der Westhuizen, played with Wegner before he resumed his own career as a player at Edinburgh in Scotland in 2012.

Van der Westhuizen told OFM Sport that Wegner is the type of player who does his job, and does it well.

"Carl is a great team man and I enjoyed playing with him when he was younger," says Van der Westhuizen.

“He is also a great person and he will bring a lot of experience to our pack. I'm always happy when we sign forwards. He is a typical number four lock. He only does what is expected of him with hard work and he never complains either. I am very happy that he is coming back.”

Wegner, or Tollies as he is known, will fly back to South Africa with his family on Thursday. The player admitted that at the stage it is crazy with all the packing etc., but he is however delighted to return to the Free State. The players' two young children are also around the age where they start school, according to him he would like to end his rugby career with the Cheetahs.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to return to Bloemfontein," said Wegner from Treviso.

"I am also very grateful for the opportunities I have been able to enjoy abroad, but it is always nice to return to Bloemfontein. It always makes me feel like I'm at home and also part of the family. It is a great privilege to be in Bloem and to live out my passion. With my experience, I want to help the boys to also live out their passion and also to reach their full potential. I hope to contribute in a positive way and also to just bring love of rugby back to the City of Roses and to enjoy it with my family."

Wegner has previously played in 86 games for the Free State and Cheetahs in all competitions and his experience is exactly what the team needs.

His late father, Callie Wegner, also ran for the Free State in his day and it comes as no surprise that a player who is without a doubt one of the friendliest people in the Free State, also considers the Cheetahs family.

Wegner’s contract with the Cheetahs starts on 1 July 2023.

Meanwhile, another familiar face started training with the Cheetahs again this week. The 30-year-old prop Dolph Botha is also back with the team around America, where he played the San Diego Legion as well as the New England Freejacks. He also played rugby in France, Russia and Poland. Botha is expected to play from the replacements bench against the Sharks on Friday night in Durban. The game at Kings Park kicks off at 19:05.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport