Toyota Challenge

Last updated

Toyota Challenge
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg #2024
Sport Rugby union
First season 2021
No. of teams
Venue(s) Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Most recent
champion(s)		Flag of South Africa.svg Cheetahs (2023)
Most titlesFlag of South Africa.svg Cheetahs (9 titles)

The Toyota Challenge is a rugby union competition hosted in South Africa by the Cheetahs, a team sponsored by Toyota SA. [1] The first tournament took place at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein between 13 November and 26 November 2021. [2]

Contents

In 2021, four teams played against the Cheetahs across four matches, with a 250,000 rand prize money for each match. In addition, players were rewarded for "positive play actions" during the games, while fans were rewarded for supporting their favourite teams in the stadium and online on various social media platforms. [3]

The Cheetahs are currently without a permanent tournament, whilst the Stormers and Sharks compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC). CSM Știința Baia Mare competes in Romania's top level professional league the SuperLiga and Diables Barcelona are a newly formed Spanish pro team to promote professionalism in the Spain.

The Toyota Challenge fixtures are broadcast by SuperSport. [4]

The Cheetahs won six out of eight Toyota Challenge matches since 2021 making them the most successful team in the tournament.

In 2022, the competition returned with five team competing in a four-match Toyota Challenge with each match winning again winning a 250,000 rand prize money. [5] The Cheetahs remained as the hosts and are joined by Emerging Ireland, USA Falcons XV and Griquas. Italy A had been set to participate, but later withdrew and replaced by the Bulls. [6]

Competing teams

Overall Record

The overall record for the teams in the Toyota Challenge matches is as follows:

Toyota Challenge Overall Record
Team NameChampionsRunner-Up
Cheetahs 93
Emerging Ireland 20
Western Force 23
Stormers XV 10
Diables Barcelona 01
Sharks 01
CSM Știința Baia Mare 01
Bulls 01
USA National A 01
Griquas 01

2021

Toyota Challenge Fixtures

The below fixtures counted towards games where the winners would win the 250,000 rand prize money.

13 November 2021
17:30 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 30–31 Stormers XV
Try: G. van der Merwe 13' c
Kasende 20' c
Jasper 71' c
Con: Masuku (2/2) 14', 22'
Thomson (1/1) 72'
Pen: Masuku (3/3) 8', 43', 48'		 Summary Try: Theunissen 38' c
Senatla (2) 68' c, 80+2' m
Con: Mngomezulu (2/3) 39', 69'
Pen: Mngomezulu (4/4) 6', 11', 31', 57'
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
17 November 2021
17:30 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 99–15 Diables Barcelona
Try: Brandt (2) 1' m, 9' c
Potgieter (2) 17' c, 33' m
Boshoff (3) 19' c, 70' c, 76' c
Booysen 20' c
Mafuma (2) 36' m, 80' c
Botha (2) 40' c, 63' c
Viljoen 50' c
Mohojé 54' c
Venter 61' c
Con: Thomson (12/15) 10', 18', 20', 22', 40+1', 52', 55', 62', 64', 72', 77', 80+1'		 Summary Try: Brand 31' c
Yika 68' m
Con: Van Bilion (1/2) 32'
Pen: Van Bilion (1/2) 24'
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
20 November 2021
14:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 40–34 Sharks
Try: Brandt (2) 25' c, 36' c
Brits (2) 41' c, 69' c
Con: Masuku (4/4) 26', 38', 42', 71'
Pen: Masuku (4/4) 22', 34', 65', 77'		 Summary Try: Pienaar 3' m
Potgieter 19' m
Bleuler 54' c
Volmink 60' c
Ward 80' c
Con: Chamberlain (3/5) 55', 62', 80+1'
Pen: Chamberlain (1/1) 6'
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
26 November 2021
18:15 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 54–5 CSM Știința Baia Mare
Try: Potgieter 19' c
G. van der Merwe 38' m
Boshoff 46' c
Van der Westhuizen 53' c
Penalty try 61'
M. van der Merwe 64' c
Masuku 74' c
Sekekete 80' c
Con: Thomson (2/3) 20', 47'
Masuku (4/4) 54', 65', 75', 80+2'		 Summary Try: Mahlo 3' m
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Ruhan Meiring

Toyota Friendlies

20 November 2021
11:00 SAST (UTC+2)
CSM Știința Baia Mare 72–14 Free State XV
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jaco Kotze
25 November 2021
17:30 SAST (UTC+2)
Diables Barcelona 6–59Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Griffin Colby

2022

Toyota Challenge Fixtures

The below fixtures counted towards games where the winners would win the 250,000 rand prize money.

30 September 2022
16:15 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 17–14 Bulls
Try: Mzwanele Zito, Enver Brandt, Chucky van der Westhuizen
Con: Ruan Pienaar 		Try: Jacques van Rooyen 13' , Penalty try 60'
Con: Morné Steyn 14'
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Paul Mente
9 October 2022
13:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 14–21 IRFU flag.svg Emerging Ireland
Try: Penalty try (2) 26' c 75' c Report Try: Doak 20' c
Daly 53' c
Osborne 60' c
Con: Crowley (3/3)
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Morné Ferreira
14 October 2022
18:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 53–25 Flag of the United States.svg USA Falcons
Report [7]
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
21 October 2022
16:15 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs 27–20 Griquas
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Christopher Allison

Toyota Friendlies

30 September 2022
13:45 SAST (UTC+2)
Griquas 7–54 IRFU flag.svg Emerging Ireland
Try: Otto 32' c
Con: Fouché (1/1)		 Report Try: Penny (2) 13' c 36' c
Baloucoune 24' c
Wycherley 40' c
Moore 53' c
Daly 61' c
McCann 68' m
Nash 79' c
Con: Crowley (6/6)
Flannery (1/2)
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Morné Ferreira
5 October 2022
17:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Pumas 24–28 IRFU flag.svg Emerging Ireland
Try: Fouché 20' m
Swart 30' c
de Klerk (2) 60' m 65' c
Con: de Beer (2/4)		 Report Try: Mullins 7' c
Culhane (2) 10' c 52' c
Flannery 16' c
Con: Flannery (4/4)
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
5 October 2022
19:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Griquas 41–7 Bulls
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Griffin Colby
9 October 2022
17:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Pumas 27–20 Western Province XV
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Griffin Colby
21 October 2022
13:45 SAST (UTC+2)
Pumas 33–15 Flag of the United States.svg USA Falcons
Report [8]
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jaco Peyper

2023

Toyota Challenge Fixtures

The below fixtures counted towards games where the winners would win the 250,000 rand prize money.

2024

2 October 2024 [9]
16:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Emerging Ireland IRFU flag.svg36–24Flag of South Africa.svg Pumas
Try: Ward 14' m
Murray 28' c
Izuchukwu 39' c
Smyth 42' m
McCarthy 61' m
Penalty try 76'
Con: Prendergast (2/4) 28', 39'		 Report Try: Msenge 32' c
Swanepoel (2) 55' c, 80' m
Swart 73' m
Con: Swart (2/4) 32', 55'
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa) [10]
2 October 2024 [9]
19:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Cheetahs Flag of South Africa.svg24–38Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Force
Try: van der Merwe 16' c
Annies 43' m
Wegner 63' m
Paulo 80+2' c
Con: Wentzel (1/3) 17'
Loubser (1/1) 80+3'		 Report Try: Potter (2) 4' c, 37' c
Dolly 31' m
Harris 47' c
Con: Burey (3/4) 5', 39', 49'
Pen: Burey (2/2) 19', 40+1'
Miln (2/2) 70', 73'
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) [11]
6 October 2024 [9]
13:00 SAST (UTC+2)
Emerging Ireland IRFU flag.svg29–24Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Force
Report [12]
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: H van Rooyen (South Africa)

See also

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References

  1. ↑ ROMANS AND COUNTRYMEN, HERE COMES A RUGBY FEAST!
  2. ↑ DHL STORMERS XV READY FOR TOYOTA CHALLENGE
  3. ↑ New money-spinning tournament coming to Bloem as Cheetahs announce Toyota Challenge
  4. ↑ Toyota Challenge to light up November
  5. ↑ A cool million up for grabs in the Toyota Challenge
  6. ↑ Bulls replace Italy A in the Toyota Challenge
  7. ↑ "Second-half slide sees Falcons fall to Cheetahs". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "USA improve but Pumas take spoils in Bloemfontein". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Exciting Rugby Showdown in 2024 Toyota Challenge: Toyota Cheetahs, Emerging Ireland, and Western Force". fscheetahs.co.za. 2 October 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Emerging Ireland Score Six Tries In Opening Victory Over Pumas". irishrugby.ie. IRFU. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "TOYOTA CHALLENGE TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Toyota Cheetahs vs Western Force". fscheetahs.co.za. 2 October 2024. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Sam Prendergast steers Emerging Ireland to hard-fought win over Western Force". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
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