Free State Cheetahs

Not to be confused with Cheetahs (rugby union).

Free State Cheetahs

Full name	Free State Cheetahs
Union	Free State Rugby Union
Emblem(s)	Cheetah
Founded	1895; 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
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.fscheetahs.co.za
Current season

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.

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.

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	Transvaal^1	56–35	Orange Free State	Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1997	Western Province	14–12	Free State Cheetahs^2	Newlands, Cape Town
2004	Blue Bulls^3	42–33	Free State Cheetahs	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005	Free State Cheetahs	29–25	Blue Bulls	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006	Free State Cheetahs	28–28^4	Blue Bulls	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2007	Free State Cheetahs	20–18	Golden Lions^1	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
2023	Free State Cheetahs	25–17	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

Season	Winners	Score	Runner-up	Venue
2000	Free State	44–24	Griquas	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
2008	Blue Bulls	25–21	Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2010	Blue Bulls	31–29	Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Bankfin Nite Series finals

Season	Winners	Score	Runner-up	Venue
1996	Free State	46–34	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 Dolph Botha Aranos Coetzee Marné Coetzee Schalk Ferreira Wayrin Losper Boeta Loubser Nqoba Mxoli Kevin Stevens Alulutho Tshakweni Conraad van Vuuren Hencus van Wyk Lawrence Victor Hookers Jacques Goosen Marko Janse van Rensburg Marnus van der Merwe Louis van der Westhuizen Janus Venter Locks Rynier Bernardo Jean Droste Ruan Janse van Rensburg Sibabalo Qoma Victor Sekekete (c) Johnre Stopforth Mzwanele Zito	Loose forwards George Cronjé Dian Koen Daniel Maartens Thabang Mahlasi Oupa Mohojé Andisa Ntsila Friedle Olivier Jeandré Rudolph Paul Schoeman Roelof Smit Gideon van der Merwe Scrum-halves Zenedine Booysen Branden de Kock Rewan Kruger Juan-Dee Olivier Fly-halves Reinhardt Fortuin George Lourens Siya Masuku	Centres Evardi Boshoff David Brits Wingers Enver Brandt Thoubaan Gabriels Xolisa Guma Munier Hartzenberg Daniel Kasende Tapiwa Mafura Marcell Muller Fullbacks Cohen Jasper Andell Loubser Siyasanga Sazile Siba Xamlashe
(cc) Denotes team co-captains and Bold denotes internationally capped.

Springboks

Name Year 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

Name Year 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

Name Year 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

Name Year 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

Name Year 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

References

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

External links

• Official website