Cheetahs (rugby union)

The Cheetahs (known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs), is a South African professional rugby union team that played Super Rugby between 2006 and 2017, before joining the Pro14 competition prior to the 2017–18 season. They are based at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs
UnionSouth African Rugby Union
Emblem(s)Cheetah
Founded2005 (2005)
LocationBloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
RegionFree State
Northern Cape
Ground(s)Free State Stadium
(Capacity: 46,000)
Director of RugbyFranco Smith
Coach(es)Hawies Fourie
Captain(s)Ruan Pienaar/ Tian Meyer
League(s)Pro14
Super Rugby Unlocked
2019–204th (Conference A)
Super Rugby Unlocked
(4th)
Team kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.fscheetahs.co.za
Current season

The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State province, the same as that of provincial Currie Cup side the Free State Cheetahs. Between 2006 and 2015, the Griffons from the eastern half of the Free State province and Griquas from the Northern Cape province were Cheetahs franchise partners, but this ended prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season.[1]

The Cheetahs was one of the two new franchises that entered the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006, the other being Australia's Western Force. The Central Union was awarded the fifth South African franchise over the SEC franchise in April 2005. In its first season the Cheetahs did surprisingly well, finishing tenth in the final standings, out of 14 sides. Prior to being accepted into the 2006 Super 14 season, the Cheetahs were represented as a part of the Cats. In addition, before the South African Rugby Union entered regionalised franchises into the competition, the Free State Cheetahs side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season.[2]

Strip

The primary strip for the Toyota Cheetahs is an orange jersey with a white collar and white trim. Black shorts with orange socks and white trim. The colours are representative of the Free State Currie Cup side; orange and white (Free State Cheetahs)

The alternative jersey is the same design, though it is a white jersey with an orange collar and orange trim. Black shorts with orange socks and white trim.

History

Prior to South Africa entering franchises into the then Super 12, the domestic Currie Cup sides competed instead. The Free State Cheetahs, one of the sides that make up the current Central Cheetahs, competed in one Super 12 season in 1997.[2] The Free State played 11 matches, winning 5 and losing 6. They placed 7th on the end of season standings.

Proposals by the Central Union franchise and the SEC (Southern and Eastern Cape) franchise were studied for the allocation of a fifth Super Rugby team licence. The Central Union emphasized points to the SARU such as that the region is second only to the Western Province in terms of producing players for the national side. The Central Union noted that they have a strong and stable fanbase that would be able to meet financial and administrative responsibilities and demands of a Super 14 rugby side.[3]

In mid April 2005, the South African Rugby Union announced that the Central Unions franchise would be its fifth team for the expanded Super 14 competition that would begin in 2006. They were awarded the franchise ahead of the Southern and Eastern Cape (see Southern Spears). In the pre-season of their entrance to the new look Super 14 competition, the Cheetahs played both of the other new franchises, new Australian team; the Western Force and 2007 fellow South African team, the Southern Spears. The Cheetahs proved to be the strongest out of the new sides, demolishing the Spears 48 to nil and soundly defeating the Force in Perth. The Cheetahs played their first game on 10 February, proving they are fighting fit, but were not good enough on the day for the South African Bulls, losing their first official match in Bloemfontein 18 points to 30. The Cheetahs won their first Super 14 game in week two, defeating the Sharks in a thrilling match seeing the Cheetahs win by a single point, 27 to 26. Entering round four of the 2006 season, the Cheetahs were facing the table leaders, the Hurricanes. In a surprise result, the Cheetahs beat the table leaders, thus winning their first home game and proving they deserve to be in the Super 14.

The Cheetahs finally broke their drought in overseas matches with an upset over the New South Wales Waratahs on 19 March 2011.

Following SANZAAR's decision to reduce the number of teams for 2018, the South African Rugby Union announced that the Cheetahs would be one of the teams cut from the 2018 competition. Instead, the Cheetahs joined the previously-northern hemispherean Pro14 competition prior to the 2017–18 season.

Stadia

The Cheetahs' home stadium is the Free State Stadium, previously referred to as Vodacom Park for sponsorship purposes, located in Bloemfontein. The stadium had its capacity increased to 48,000 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium is the home of Free State rugby as it is also home to the Free State Cheetahs, a Currie Cup side which produces a large number of players for the Cheetahs franchise. A then-capacity crowd of 37,383 watched the Cheetahs in their first official Super 14 match against the Bulls on 10 February 2006.

The Cheetahs also previously played matches at Griquas Park in Kimberley, the home of the Griqualand West Rugby Union, and at North West Stadium in Welkom, the home of the Griffons Rugby Union.

Season by season record

Competition Season Cheetahs seasons Top try scorer Top point scorer
Pos Finals P W L D F A -/+ BP Pts Name Tries Name Points
Super 14 2006 10th 13 5 8 0 272 367 –95 7 27 Giscard Pieters 5 Meyer Bosman 81
2007 11th 13 4 8 1 265 342 –77 4 22 3 players 2 Willem de Waal 54
2008 13th 13 1 12 0 255 428 –173 9 13 Jongi Nokwe 7 Conrad Barnard 47
2009 14th 13 2 11 0 213 341 –128 3 11 Jongi Nokwe 6 Jacques-Louis Potgieter 59
2010 11th 13 5 7 1 315 393 –78 4 26 Björn Basson 5 Naas Olivier 112
Super Rugby 2011 11th 16 5 11 0 435 437 –2 12 40 Sarel Pretorius 9 Sias Ebersohn 179
2012 10th 16 5 11 0 391 458 –67 10 38 Willie le Roux 7 Johan Goosen 145
2013 6th Qualifying final 16 10 6 0 382 358 24 6 54 Willie le Roux 6 Burton Francis 62
2014 14th 16 4 11 1 372 527 –155 6 24 Cornal Hendricks 6 Johan Goosen 143
2015 13th 16 4 12 0 247 434 –187 6 22 Boom Prinsloo 8 Joe Pietersen 92
2016 14th 15 4 11 0 377 425 –48 5 21 Sergeal Petersen 9 Fred Zeilinga 79
2017 13th 15 4 11 0 395 551 –156 5 21 Raymond Rhule 6 Fred Zeilinga 108
Pro14 2017–18 3rd Quarter-finals 21 12 9 0 609 554 55 15 63 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Fred Zeilinga 86
2018–19 6th 21 8 12 1 541 606 –61 12 46 Rabz Maxwane 14 Tian Schoeman 134
  • Bold indicates current team player

Current squad

The squad for the Super Rugby Unlocked competition is:[4][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]

Cheetahs Super Rugby Unlocked squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

Fullbacks

(cc) Denotes team co-captains and Bold denotes internationally capped.

  1. Wiese was not originally named in the Cheetahs squad, but was announced in the team for Round 1 of Super Rugby Unlocked.[5]
  2. Mchunu & van Wyk were not originally named in the Cheetahs squad, but were announced as signing in late-October 2020.[6]
  3. Groenewald, Rudolph and Sekekete were not originally named in the Cheetahs squad, but were announced as signing in November 2020.[7]

Coaches

Captains

Records

Pro14 records

The Cheetahs' Pro14 records are as follows (updated 11 February 2018):

Team Match Records
Record Opposition Venue Season
Biggest win: Southern KingsNelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth2017–1824
Heaviest defeat:MunsterThomond Park, Limerick2017–1833
Highest score:ZebreFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2017–1854
Most points conceded:MunsterThomond Park, Limerick2017–1851
Most tries:ZebreFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2017–188
Most tries conceded:MunsterThomond Park, Limerick2017–188
Player Match Records
Record Player Opposition Venue Season
Most points by a player:Ernst StapelbergLeinsterFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2017–1818
Most tries by a player:Nico Lee Southern KingsNelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth2017–183
Most conversions by a player:Ernst StapelbergZebreFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2017–187
Most penalties by a player:Ernst StapelbergLeinsterFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2017–184
Ernst StapelbergGlasgow WarriorsFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2017–184
Most drop goals by a player:No drop goals yet
Team Season Records
Record Matches Season
Most team points:in 14 matches2017–18430
Most team tries:in 14 matches2017–1853
Player Season Records
Record Player Season
Most points by a player:Fred Zeilinga2017–1879
Most tries by a player:Makazole Mapimpi2017–1810
Most conversions by a player:Fred Zeilinga2017–1821
Most penalties by a player:Ernst Stapelberg2017–1814
Most drop goals by a player:No drop goals yet
Player Career Records
Record Player Seasons
Most appearances:Rynier Bernardo2017–1814
Aranos Coetzee2017–1814
Charles Marais2017–1814
Ox Nché2017–1814
Shaun Venter2017–1814
Most points:Fred Zeilinga2017–1879
Most tries:Makazole Mapimpi2017–1810
Most conversions:Fred Zeilinga2017–1821
Most penalties:Ernst Stapelberg2017–1814
Most drop goals:No drop goals yet

Super Rugby records

The Cheetahs' Super Rugby records are as follows:

Team Match Records
Record Opposition Venue Season
Biggest win: SunwolvesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein201675
Heaviest defeat: HurricanesWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington201754
Highest score: SunwolvesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein201692
Most points conceded: BrumbiesCanberra Stadium, Canberra201061
HurricanesWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington201061
Most tries: SunwolvesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein201614
Most tries conceded: BrumbiesCanberra Stadium, Canberra20109
HurricanesWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington20109
Player Match Records
Record Player Opposition Venue Season
Most points by a player:Meyer Bosman StormersNewlands Stadium, Cape Town200626
Most tries by a player:Rayno Benjamin StormersFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20113
Sergeal Petersen SunwolvesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20163
Sarel Pretorius HurricanesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20113
Paul Schoeman SunwolvesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20163
Riaan Viljoen LionsEllis Park Stadium, Johannesburg20113
Most conversions by a player:Niel Marais SunwolvesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20168
Most penalties by a player:Meyer Bosman StormersNewlands Stadium, Cape Town20068
Most drop goals by a player:Sias Ebersohn HurricanesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20112
Riaan Viljoen BrumbiesFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein20112
Team Season Records
Record Matches Season
Most team points:in 16 matches2011435
Most team tries:in 15 matches201647
Player Season Records
Record Player Season
Most points by a player:Sias Ebersohn2011179
Most tries by a player:Sergeal Petersen20169
Sarel Pretorius20119
Most conversions by a player:Sias Ebersohn201132
Most penalties by a player:Sias Ebersohn201133
Most drop goals by a player:Sias Ebersohn20112
Naas Olivier20102
Joe Pietersen20152
Riaan Viljoen20112
Player Career Records
Record Player Seasons
Most appearances:Adriaan Strauss2007201497
Most points:Johan Goosen20122014331
Most tries:Sarel Pretorius2009201524
Most conversions:Johan Goosen2012201446
Most penalties:Johan Goosen2012201470
Most drop goals:Sias Ebersohn201020112
Naas Olivier200920102
Joe Pietersen20152
Riaan Viljoen201020112

See also

References

  1. "It's a new generation Cheetah!" (Press release). Cheetahs. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  2. "Central Cheetahs". CRFU. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
  3. "TashiTagg". Who Will Get The Fifth Franchise?. Archived from the original on 22 August 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2006.
  4. "Players in Super Rugby Unlocked". Cheetahs. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. "Team Announcement: Toyota Cheetahs vs Phakisa Pumas" (Press release). Cheetahs. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  6. "Toyota Cheetahs welcomes Khutha Mchunu and Hencus van Wyk to the family" (Press release). Cheetahs. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  7. "Toyota Cheetahs welcomes Jeandré Rudolph, Ian Groenewald and Victor Sekekete to the family" (Press release). Cheetahs. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
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