Free State Cheetahs

The Free State Cheetahs (formerly the Orange Free State), currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 48,000 capacity Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs have won the Currie Cup six times, with five of the wins coming since 2005, including winning the cup three times consecutively from 2005 to 2007. Since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, they have been considered one of South Africa's "Big 5" provincial rugby Unions.

Free State Cheetahs
Full nameFree State Cheetahs
UnionFree State Rugby Union
Emblem(s)Cheetah
Founded1895; 125 years ago
RegionFree State, South Africa
Ground(s)Free State Stadium (Capacity: 48,000)
Coach(es)Hawies Fourie
Captain(s)Tian Meyer
League(s)Currie Cup
2020–21Finals:DNQ
5th on Log
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.fscheetahs.co.za
Current season

The Cheetahs are a very well supported team across the Free State as well having large fan bases in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. They are also known as the darlings of South African rugby, with many other South African rugby fans adopting them as their second team especially when they take on any of the other "Big 5" teams. The Cheetahs average home crowds of approximately 17,000 in the Currie Cup when they play at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Their biggest rivals are traditionally Western Province. However, in recent times the Blue Bulls have also become fierce rivals of the Cheetahs.

History

The Orange Free State Rugby Union was established in 1895, but did not make it to their first Currie Cup final appearance until 1973, when they lost to Northern Transvaal 30-22 at Loftus Versfeld. Just two seasons later, the Orange Free State met Northern Transvaal again in the Currie Cup final, losing 12-6 at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The following season, Orange Free State met the Western Province in the final, defeating them 33-16 in Bloemfontein, claiming their first Currie Cup championship. The next season, Orange Free State met Northern Transvaal in the Currie Cup final again, though Northern Transvaal defeated them 27-12 in Pretoria. For the fourth successive time, Orange Free State were in the final again, and again with Northern Transvaal, who defeated them 13-9.

They met Northern Transvaal in the 1981 season final. Northern Transvaal won 23-16. The Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs made two final appearances in the 1990s, being runners-up to Transvaal and the Western Province in 1994 and 1997 respectively. In 2004, they were runners-up to the Blue Bulls in the final. However, the following season, the Free State defeated them in the final, 29 points to 25. The Free State finished at the top of the table of the 2006 season, and defeated the Sharks in their home semi to advance to their third final in as many years. The Cheetahs hosted the final, which ended in a 28-all draw after 20 minutes of extra-time.

In the 2007 season, the FS Cheetahs continued their great form, winning 13 of the 14 games before the finals. After beating the Blue Bulls in the semis at home, they won the Currie Cup for a third consecutive time by coming from behind to beat the Golden Lions by 20-18 in the final.

In the 2016 season, they emerged undefeated in the Currie Cup, and beat the Blue Bulls in the final 36 - 16.

Other teams

In addition to the Free State Cheetahs that play in the Currie Cup competition, a Free State XV also compete in the Vodacom Cup / Currie Cup qualification series on an annual basis. This team play their matches at the same time as the Super Rugby season, with the majority of Free State Cheetahs first team squad in action for the Cheetahs Super Rugby franchise. While the Free State XV's matches are classified as first class matches by the South African Rugby Union, they are not included in the Free State Rugby Union for their annual capping ceremony.

In previous seasons, an Emerging Cheetahs team also participated in first class compulsory friendly matches prior to the Currie Cup season.

Currie Cup finals

Season Winners Score Runner-up Venue
1973 Northern Transvaal 30 - 22 Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1975 Northern Transvaal 12 - 6 Orange Free State Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1976 Orange Free State 33 - 16 Western Province Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1977 Northern Transvaal 27 - 12 Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1978 Northern Transvaal 13 - 9 Orange Free State Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1981 Northern Transvaal 23 - 6 Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1994 Transvaal1 56 - 35 Orange Free State Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1997 Western Province 14 - 12 Free State Cheetahs2 Newlands, Cape Town
2004 Blue Bulls3 42 - 33 Free State Cheetahs Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005 Free State Cheetahs 29 - 25 Blue Bulls Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006 Free State Cheetahs 28 - 284 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2007 Free State Cheetahs 20 - 18 Golden Lions1 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2009 Blue Bulls 36 - 24 Free State Cheetahs Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2016 Free State Cheetahs 36 - 16 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2019 Free State Cheetahs 31 - 28 Golden Lions Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

1 Transvaal are now known as the Golden Lions.
2 Orange Free State were renamed the Free State Cheetahs.
3 Northern Transvaal were renamed the Blue Bulls.
4 Game was a draw after 80+20minutes, thus the cup was shared.

Current squad

The following players were included in the Free State Cheetahs squad for the 2020 Currie Cup Premier Division:[1]

Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup squad[lower-alpha 1]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

Fullbacks

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

  1. Taking into account signings and departures following the Super Rugby Unlocked competition.

Springboks

Name Year
Boetie McHardy1912
Hennie Potgieter1928
Tiny Francis1931/32
Jack Gage1933
Lappies Hattingh1933
Flip Geel1949
Piet Wessels1951/52
Basie Vivier1956
Harry Walker1953
Popeye Strydom1955
Chris de Wilzem1956
Bennie van Niekerk1960/61
Gert Cilliers1963
Nelie Smith1963
John Wessels1965
Piet Goosen1965
Sakkie van Zyl1965
Louis Slabber1965
 
Piet Greyling1967
Joggie Jansen1970
Jackie Snyman1974
Gerrie Germishuys1974
Leon Vogel1974
Jan Schlebusch1974
Johan de Bruyn1974
Gerrie Sonnekus1974
Kleintjie Grobler1974
Rampie Stander1974
André Bestbier1974
Edrich Krantz1976
De Wet Ras1976
Theuns Stofberg1976
Hermanus Potgieter1977
Dirk Froneman1977
Barry Wolmarans1977
Martiens le Roux1980
Gysie Pienaar1980
 
Eben Jansen1981
Rudi Visagie1984
Jaco Reinach1986
Christo Ferreira1986
Helgard Müller1986
André Joubert1989
Johan Styger1992
Ruben Kruger1993
Hentie Martens1993
Naka Drotské1993
Ollie le Roux1994
Brendan Venter1994
Chris Badenhorst1994
Os du Randt1994
André Venter1996
Werner Swanepoel1997
Rassie Erasmus1997
Jannie de Beer1997
Braam Els1997
 
Willie Meyer1997
Hendro Scholtz2002
Freidrich Lombard2002
CJ van der Linde2002
Juan Smith2003
Gerrie Britz2004
Hanyani Shimange2004
Michael Claassens2004
Gurthro Steenkamp2004
Meyer Bosman2005
Bevin Fortuin2006
Kabamba Floors2006
Jannie du Plessis2007
Barend Pieterse2007
Adriaan Strauss2008
Jongi Nokwe2008
Heinrich Brüssow2008
Wian du Preez2009
Coenie Oosthuizen2010
 
Ashley Johnson2010
Johan Goosen2012
Raymond Rhule2012
Trevor Nyakane2013
Piet van Zyl2013
Cornal Hendricks2014
Lood de Jager2014
Oupa Mohoje2014
Francois Venter2016
Uzair Cassiem2016
Ox Nche2018

References

  1. "Currie Cup Players". Free State Cheetahs. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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