Veteran Toyota Cheetahs playmaker Frans Steyn, an EPCR Challenge Cup winner with Montpellier Hérault Rugby in 2016, is out of the South African side’s Round of 16 trip to RC Toulon on Saturday.

The two-time World Cup winner suffered a knee injury in the Cheetahs’ 32-7 victory over the Vodacom Bulls last Friday in the Currie Cup and was not included in the 25-man squad who departed for France on Tuesday.

Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie said they had hoped the versatile 35-year-old would be fit, having played in France for Racing 92 and Montpellier between 2009 and 2020, but he wasn’t in the squad named on Monday.

Instead, captained by lock Victor Sekekete, Cheetahs will look to another Springbok veteran for experience of French conditions in 39-year-old utility back Ruan Pienaar, who also played for Montpellier between 2017 and 2019.