Free State Cheetahs

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Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs logo.svg
Full nameFree State Cheetahs
UnionFree State Rugby Union
Emblem(s) Cheetah
Founded1895; 125 years ago
Region Free State, South Africa
Ground(s) Free State Stadium (Capacity: 48,000)
Coach(es) Izak van der Westhuizen
Captain(s) Victor Sekekete
League(s) Currie Cup
2022 Semi-finalist
1st on log
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1st kit
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2nd kit
Official website
www.fscheetahs.co.za
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The Free State Cheetahs (formerly Orange Free State), currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs due to 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.

Contents

The Cheetahs are a very well supported team across the Free State as well having large fan bases in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.[ citation needed ] 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.[ citation needed ] The Cheetahs average home crowds of approximately 17,000 in the Currie Cup when they play at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.[ citation needed ] Their biggest rivals are traditionally Western Province. However, in recent times the Blue Bulls have also become fierce rivals of the Cheetahs.[ citation needed ]

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

SeasonWinnersScoreRunner-upVenue
1973 Northern Transvaal 30–22Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1975 Northern Transvaal 12–6Orange Free State Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1976Orange Free State33–16 Western Province Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1977 Northern Transvaal 27–12Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1978 Northern Transvaal 13–9Orange Free State Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1981 Northern Transvaal 23–6Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1994 Transvaal 156–35Orange Free State Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1997 Western Province 14–12Free State Cheetahs2 Newlands, Cape Town
2004 Blue Bulls 342–33Free State Cheetahs Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005Free State Cheetahs29–25 Blue Bulls Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006Free State Cheetahs28–284 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2007 Free State Cheetahs20–18 Golden Lions 1 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2009 Blue Bulls 36–24Free State Cheetahs Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2016 Free State Cheetahs36–16 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2019 Free State Cheetahs31–28 Golden Lions Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2023 Free State Cheetahs25–17 Pumas 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.

Vodacom Cup finals

SeasonWinnersScoreRunner-upVenue
2000Free State44–24 Griquas Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
2008 Blue Bulls 25–21Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2010 Blue Bulls 31–29Free State Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Bankfin Nite Series finals

SeasonWinnersScoreRunner-upVenue
1996 Free State46–34 Border Bloemfontein

Current squad

The following players were included in the Free State Cheetahs squad for the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division: [1]

Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves


Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

Fullbacks

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

    Springboks

    NameYear
    Boetie McHardy 1912
    Hennie Potgieter 1928
    Tiny Francis 1931/32
    Jack Gage 1933
    Lappies Hattingh 1933
    Flip Geel 1949
    Piet Wessels 1951/52
    Basie Vivier 1956
    Harry Walker 1953
    Popeye Strydom 1955
    Chris de Wilzem 1956
    Bennie van Niekerk 1960/61
    Gert Cilliers 1963
    Nelie Smith 1963
    John Wessels 1965
    Piet Goosen 1965
    Sakkie van Zyl 1965
    Louis Slabber 1965
     
    NameYear
    Piet Greyling 1967
    Joggie Jansen 1970
    Jackie Snyman 1974
    Gerrie Germishuys 1974
    Leon Vogel 1974
    Jan Schlebusch 1974
    Johan de Bruyn 1974
    Gerrie Sonnekus 1974
    Kleintjie Grobler 1974
    Rampie Stander 1974
    André Bestbier 1974
    Edrich Krantz 1976
    De Wet Ras 1976
    Theuns Stofberg 1976
    Hermanus Potgieter 1977
    Dirk Froneman 1977
    Barry Wolmarans 1977
    Martiens le Roux 1980
    Gysie Pienaar 1980
     
    NameYear
    Eben Jansen 1981
    Rudi Visagie 1984
    Jaco Reinach 1986
    Christo Ferreira 1986
    Helgard Müller 1986
    André Joubert 1989
    Johan Styger 1992
    Ruben Kruger 1993
    Hentie Martens 1993
    Naka Drotské 1993
    Ollie le Roux 1994
    Brendan Venter 1994
    Chris Badenhorst 1994
    Os du Randt 1994
    André Venter 1996
    Werner Swanepoel 1997
    Rassie Erasmus 1997
    Jannie de Beer 1997
    Braam Els 1997
     
    NameYear
    Willie Meyer 1997
    Hendro Scholtz 2002
    Friedrich Lombard 2002
    CJ van der Linde 2002
    Juan Smith 2003
    Gerrie Britz 2004
    Hanyani Shimange 2004
    Michael Claassens 2004
    Gurthro Steenkamp 2004
    Meyer Bosman 2005
    Bevin Fortuin 2006
    Kabamba Floors 2006
    Jannie du Plessis 2007
    Barend Pieterse 2007
    Adriaan Strauss 2008
    Jongi Nokwe 2008
    Heinrich Brüssow 2008
    Wian du Preez 2009
    Coenie Oosthuizen 2010
     
    NameYear
    Ashley Johnson 2010
    Johan Goosen 2012
    Raymond Rhule 2012
    Trevor Nyakane 2013
    Piet van Zyl 2013
    Cornal Hendricks 2014
    Lood de Jager 2014
    Oupa Mohoje 2014
    Francois Venter 2016
    Uzair Cassiem 2016
    Ox Nché 2018
    Rosko Specman 2021

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    References

    1. "Currie Cup Players". Free State Cheetahs. Retrieved 13 March 2023.