The 18-year-old winger, Marcell Muller, is ready to start his journey at the Toyota Cheetahs after signing a contract with the central franchise.

Muller signed with the French club, Montpellier, while in matric at Grey College last year along with serval other star players from the team which boasts with an unbeaten run that stretches back to mid 2017. 

Muller and the centre, Lesley Botha, both went to go and play for Montpellier, while George Cronjé and Jan-Hendrik Wessels went to Clermont, and FC du Plessis and Danwich Beukes headed to Toulon. 

The star flyhalf from Paul Roos Gymnasium, Kade Wolhuter, was also contracted at Montpellier. In the last month, they all returned home with Cronjé also signing at the Cheetahs, while Wessels is heading to the Bulls and Wolhuter has been contracted by Western Province. 

Du Plessis and Beukes will be heading back to Toulon. Botha is also back in Bloemfontein but at this point in time, it is not clear if he will be heading back to France or not.

Muller, who tips the scales at 102kg and runs a 100m in close to 10 sec, attracted little interest by teams in South Africa, and he was somewhat of surprise exclusion from the Free State U18 Craven Week team last year.

He did, however, go on trial at the Brumbies in Australia, but France was his end destination.

Muller who is a Bloemfontein local told OFM Sport that he has no regrets going to Europe, but he is all too happy to finally be at his hometown team.

“I am honoured to have gone to France at such a young age. I learnt new skills, a language and a new culture, not only the training field but in life as well.

“I am really glad and honoured to have signed with the Cheetahs because it is the team from my hometown.

“I look forward to start training with the PRO14 squad as from the 1st of July and to be able to train with the big names such as Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Clayton Blommetjies, William Small-Smith and the likes of.

“I would like to thank Hawies Fourie and Jan-Harm van Wyk for giving me the opportunity this these difficult times, and also for having faith in me as a young player.”

The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, has indicated that he has offered contracts to some of the other players who player with Muller and the rest at Grey.

Muller is the third Montpellier player to sign at the Cheetahs in the past year following the Springboks, Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport