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Blommetjies returns to SA after being branded unfit in nightmare season in Europe

Cheetahs' Clayton Blommetjies is tackled Hurricanes' Brad Shields in 2017... he has now pitched up at Leicester in the Premiership (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Fullback Clayton Blommetjies will be playing Currie Cup rugby for the Free State Cheetahs.

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Netwerk24 revealed that the Cheetahs have brought in Blommetjies after Malcolm Jaer was ruled of the entire Currie Cup with a groin injury.

The 28-year-old Blommetjies was released by Scarlets after being with the Welsh side for one season after joining from the Cheetahs.

He failed to make an impact with the Scarlets and played in just six matches before being loaned out to English side Leicester Tigers.

Former Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac was not happy with Blommetjies’ fitness levels.

“We do things a bit differently from the Cheetahs and expectation on the players is to be in a certain shape and Clayton has a bit of work to do in that area,” Pivac said at the start of last season.

The Free State Cheetahs open their tournament with a challenging fixture against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, July 19.

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Blommetjies came through the ranks at the Bulls, playing all his junior rugby there, and later at the age of 20, made his senior debut in the Currie Cup. He has become an integral part of the Cheetahs side with many of their successes attributed to his play.

He made 39 appearances for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition scoring six tries and has represented South Africa at four levels; SA Schools Academy, SA Students, SA Under 20s and SA Sevens.

Paarl born Blommetjies made an impact in his debut Guinness PRO14 season scoring four tries, making five try assists and features in the top five for metres gained.

However he has failed to impress during his stint in European rugby.

– Rugby365

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J
JG 1 hour ago
Springboks' No.1 status in world rankings coming under increased threat

Well said RugCs. These rankings never have and never will be of any significance to the Springboks. Our team plays to win for its country and its people. How many times do Rassie and Siya need to repeat that before it sinks in. Speak to Razor Robertson and I suspect he will tell you the same thing. Our countries will not allow their rugby success to be measured by an illogical, mathematically complicated concoction of a ranking system, dreamt up by some disgruntled and status-starved Northern Hemisphere lackeys of World Rugby in an attempt to score themselves some desperate international recognition as being the “best of world rugby”. What absolute hogwash!!

As with any of the other major team sports that compete for World Cup glory, a nation’s success is measured by its ability to win the “holy grail” of the sport - the World Cup!!!

Between them, the world's undisputed best two teams, South Africa and New Zealand hold 7 of the 10 World Cup Champions titles won thus far in Rugby's history. Until such time as any other nation surpasses that, you can bring along as many ranking systems as you like - you will NOT change that status quo.

AND here’s the irony. These two true champion rugby nations, neither of whom have the highest regard for World Rugby's “plastic ranking system” - quite coincidentally happen to be the top two teams on that very ranking table. Now, isn’t that hilarious.

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