Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith has revealed that he was contacted by Irish PRO12 franchise Connacht last December.

The reigning PRO12 champions are set to lose head coach Pat Lam at the end of the current season when he moves to the Premiership to take over at Bristol.

Connacht have previously been linked with Highlanders boss Tony Brown, who is set to link up with Japan at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Speaking to Netwerk24, Smith re-iterated his commitment to the Super Rugby franchise, who finished 14th overall last year.

“It’s true that I was contacted by Connacht in December, but I told them that I am committed to the Cheetahs,” Smith said.

The Free State Cheetahs did however taste success under Smith, who was formerly in charge of Treviso, by lifting the 2016 Currie Cup.