The Toyota Cheetahs scrumhalf, Ruben de Haas, will go under the knife next week due to a knee injury he sustained against the Western Force in the weekend in Bloemfontein.

During the 27-12 win over the Force on Saturday, the American international halfback was carted off the field after tearing his ACL.

The injury comes as a major for De Haas and the Cheetahs as the injury happened during his first game back for the Cheetahs. Up until that point De Haas was playing exceptional rugby.

The 24-year-old who played for the USA during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, told OFM that he will be out for nine months.

“It's not very good news, it was very disappointing news that I received. I have torn my ACL and I will be out for nine months,” said the third generation Free State player.

“I guess the next step for me will be to have the surgery next week Wednesday or Thursday in Cape Town. After that I will get into the rehabilitation process.

“For me it was obviously very disappointing and not how I wanted to end up finishing my first game back at the Cheetahs.

“I'll take it day-by-day and get the surgery over with, get the rehab going and get the process started again.”

Dr Willem van der Merwe will be performing the procedure, and this could be good news for De Haas. He is the same surgeon who operated the Springbok flanker and captain, Siya Kolisi. As a result of the successful surgery, Kolisi was able to be fit and ready for the Rugby World Cup in France.

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs travel to Perth in Australia on the 25 September for their two away games against the Force. The first match of the two-game tour will be played on the 29th at the Lane Group Stadium (Rushton Park).

Morgan Piek OFM Sport