Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie says FNB CUT fullback Cohen Jasper has shown his class during this year’s FNB Varsity Cup.
The 20-year-old has scored five tries for the Ixias, who have won five of their six fixtures, including the match-winner against FNB Maties.
Jasper signed a contract with the Cheetahs last year, in conjunction with FNB CUT, which saw him play for the Free State U20 team in the SA Rugby U20 Championship before joining the Ixias squad for their FNB Varsity Cup campaign.
Jasper will start training with the Cheetahs senior side from 1 June and is set to make his debut in the double-round Currie Cup Premier Division later this year.
“Cohen has played really well for CUT,” Fourie tells VarsityCup.co.za. “He’s showed his class. He’s an excellent attacking fullback, runs very good support lines whenever there’s a line break and is a superb finisher.
“Cohen is in the Cheslin Kolbe mould,” Fourie adds. “He’s not a big guy [at 77kg and 1.74m] but he has a lot of skill and the ability to score tries. He has that X-factor.
“Once he starts training with us we will decide where and when to give him playing opportunities, but fullback is his primary position so he will be competing with the likes of Clayton Blommetjies and Malcolm Jaer.”
Fourie also confirmed that the Cheetahs had signed FNB Madibaz No 8 Mihlali Mosi.
“Mihlali’s ball-carrying ability is exceptional,” he says. “He’s really explosive with ball in hand and his lineout work is excellent. He has a few things to work on, but he has a lot of attributes that will fit in with the way we play.”
Jasper and Mosi’s Cheetahs contracts both run until the end of October but, based on their FNB Varsity Cup performances, are likely to be extended well beyond that.
Photos: Brendan Croft/Catherine Kotze/Varsity Cup
