The Seattle Seawolves will have a new flyhalf on their roster for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Ryno Eksteen as signed on with the defending champions, joining from the Cheetahs, South Africa’s Guinness Pro 14 franchise based in the Free State.

Eksteen played four matches for the Cheetahs this past season, his third with the team. He had previously appeared in both the Currie Cup and the second-tier Rugby Challenge, and was in the extended Super Rugby training squad for 2017 but did not make an appearance.

The 25-year-old has one Super Rugby appearance on his record, at the age of just 19 with the Stormers in 2014. He joined the Western Province academy the previous year, arriving from the Blue Bulls where he had earned international honors with South Africa Schools.

It’s an interesting addition for the Seawolves, who used both Ben Cima and JP Smith in the No10 shirt this past season. Smith prefers scrumhalf and with the retirement of Phil Mack should be the primary No9 this season. Cima grew up in Washington DC and is a logical target for expansion side Old Glory though it remains to be seen where he will play in 2020.