The 31-year-old Toyota Cheetahs lock, Francois Uys, will be leaving the side at the conclusion of the current Super Rugby season.
Uys has signed two-year deal to play for the French Top 14 club, Grenoble.
The second-rower has played for the Cheetahs for the past nine years and also played for Toyota Verblitz and the Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars in Japan over the past two years.
The former captain of the Cheetahs has found himself mostly playing off the bench of late although he has started this season.
The workhorse of Cheetahs rugby is one of the most underrated locks in South Africa, especially when it comes to lineout time and has been hugely instrumental in the team’s solid performance in the setpiece over the years.
Uys confirmed his departure to OFM Sport and said that he is both excited and sad at the same time.
He cites family responsibilities as his main reason for taking up the opportunity in Europe.
“It’s a family decision and everyone knows that financial situation in Europe is pretty good compared to the Rand at the moment”.
The Cheetahs future in the Super Rugby is hanging in the balance and there are fears of a player exodus, especially after the loose-forward, Boom Prinsloo, was released to link up with the Bulls and now Uys confirming his departure.
Uys, however, feels that there is a still a great future for the Central franchise even if they get culled from the Super Rugby.
“I still believe that even if a guy decides to stay in South Africa it’s not all doom-and-gloom. There are a lot of opportunities.
“Even if the Cheetahs don’t make the Super Rugby for next season, I think a lot of positives could come out of it.
“There will definitely be a way the team will be accommodated in the Pro12 or in Europe somewhere. I just cannot see them letting go of a big and proud union or franchise like the Cheetahs.
“Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.”
Uys has represented the Cheetahs in 77 Super Rugby matches and the Free State in 77 Currie Cup matches and he conceded that his only regret is not being able to play a 100 Super Rugby games for the side.
“The one thing that I am quite sad about is not being able to represent the Cheetahs in a 100 Super Rugby games.
“We as a family believe that this is best time for us to move along and see where our new adventure takes us.” – MORGAN PIEk
