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Bloemfontein - The Cheetahs have announced that Francois Uys will be leading the team during the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Uys replaces Adriaan Strauss, who left the Cheetahs to join the Bulls after the end of last season.
Sarel Pretorious will serve as Uys's deputy when the team take on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday in their first match of the season.
Uys was born in Springs and he played his junior rugby for the Valke at the U-18 Craven Week (2004), Golden Lions in the U-19 (2005) and U-21 Competitions (2006 & 2007).
Uys was a member of the South Africa Under 19 side that competed in the 2005 IRB Under 19 World Championship. He made his first class debut for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup against Valke at Kempton Park on 3 March 2006, nine days before his 20th birthday.
He started his senior career in Johannesburg with the Golden Lions between 2006 and 2008, scoring 5 tries in his 24 matches for his home union.
However, he found first-team opportunities hard to come by and in 2009 he switched to the Free State Cheetahs.
He started out playing a role for the Cheetahs in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions and even had numerous spells on on loan at the Griffons (2008 & 2010 & 2012: 14 matches, 1 try).
He made his Super Rugby debut against the Blues at Eden Park in March 2009 before finally nailing down a regular starting berth during the 2013-2014 Super Rugby seasons.
Uys extended his contract at the Free State Cheetahs in 2014 and is expected to be with them until October 2016.
Uys replaces Adriaan Strauss, who left the Cheetahs to join the Bulls after the end of last season.
Sarel Pretorious will serve as Uys's deputy when the team take on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday in their first match of the season.
Uys was born in Springs and he played his junior rugby for the Valke at the U-18 Craven Week (2004), Golden Lions in the U-19 (2005) and U-21 Competitions (2006 & 2007).
Uys was a member of the South Africa Under 19 side that competed in the 2005 IRB Under 19 World Championship. He made his first class debut for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup against Valke at Kempton Park on 3 March 2006, nine days before his 20th birthday.
He started his senior career in Johannesburg with the Golden Lions between 2006 and 2008, scoring 5 tries in his 24 matches for his home union.
However, he found first-team opportunities hard to come by and in 2009 he switched to the Free State Cheetahs.
He started out playing a role for the Cheetahs in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions and even had numerous spells on on loan at the Griffons (2008 & 2010 & 2012: 14 matches, 1 try).
He made his Super Rugby debut against the Blues at Eden Park in March 2009 before finally nailing down a regular starting berth during the 2013-2014 Super Rugby seasons.
Uys extended his contract at the Free State Cheetahs in 2014 and is expected to be with them until October 2016.
