The Free State Cheetahs (formerly Orange Free State), currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs due to sponsorship reasons, are a South Africanrugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cuptournament. 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]
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.
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.
^"Currie Cup Players". Free State Cheetahs. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
External links
Official website
August 21, 2023
free, state, cheetahs, formerly, orange, free, state, currently, named, toyota, sponsorship, reasons, south, african, rugby, union, team, that, participates, annual, currie, tournament, they, governed, free, state, rugby, union, based, capacity, free, state, s. 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 Free State CheetahsFull nameFree State CheetahsUnionFree State Rugby UnionEmblem s CheetahFounded1895 125 years agoRegionFree State South AfricaGround s Free State Stadium Capacity 48 000 Coach es Hawies FourieCaptain s Victor SekeketeLeague s Currie Cup2022Semi finalist 1st on log1st kit2nd kitOfficial websitewww wbr fscheetahs wbr co wbr zaCurrent seasonThe 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 Contents 1 History 2 Other teams 3 Currie Cup finals 4 Vodacom Cup finals 5 Bankfin Nite Series finals 6 Current squad 7 Springboks 8 References 9 External linksHistory EditThe 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 EditIn 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 EditSeason Winners Score Runner up Venue1973 Northern Transvaal 30 22 Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld Pretoria1975 Northern Transvaal 12 6 Orange Free State Free State Stadium Bloemfontein1976 Orange Free State 33 16 Western Province Free State Stadium Bloemfontein1977 Northern Transvaal 27 12 Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld Pretoria1978 Northern Transvaal 13 9 Orange Free State Free State Stadium Bloemfontein1981 Northern Transvaal 23 6 Orange Free State Loftus Versfeld Pretoria1994 Transvaal1 56 35 Orange Free State Springbok Park Bloemfontein1997 Western Province 14 12 Free State Cheetahs2 Newlands Cape Town2004 Blue Bulls3 42 33 Free State Cheetahs Loftus Versfeld Pretoria2005 Free State Cheetahs 29 25 Blue Bulls Loftus Versfeld Pretoria2006 Free State Cheetahs 28 284 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium Bloemfontein2007 Free State Cheetahs 20 18 Golden Lions1 Free State Stadium Bloemfontein2009 Blue Bulls 36 24 Free State Cheetahs Loftus Versfeld Pretoria2016 Free State Cheetahs 36 16 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium Bloemfontein2019 Free State Cheetahs 31 28 Golden Lions Free State Stadium Bloemfontein1 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 EditSeason Winners Score Runner up Venue2000 Free State 44 24 Griquas Vodacom Park Bloemfontein2008 Blue Bulls 25 21 Free State Loftus Versfeld Pretoria2010 Blue Bulls 31 29 Free State Loftus Versfeld PretoriaBankfin Nite Series finals EditSeason Winners Score Runner up Venue1996 Free State 46 34 Border BloemfonteinCurrent squad EditThe following players were included in the Free State Cheetahs squad for the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division 1 Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup squadProps Dolph Botha Aranos Coetzee Marne Coetzee Schalk Ferreira Wayrin Losper Boeta Loubser Nqoba Mxoli Kevin Stevens Alulutho Tshakweni Conraad van Vuuren Hencus van Wyk Lawrence VictorHookers Jacques Goosen Marko Janse van Rensburg Marnus van der Merwe Louis van der Westhuizen Janus VenterLocks Rynier Bernardo Jean Droste Ruan Janse van Rensburg Sibabalo Qoma Victor Sekekete c Johnre Stopforth Mzwanele Zito Loose forwards George Cronje Dian Koen Daniel Maartens Thabang Mahlasi Oupa Mohoje Andisa Ntsila Friedle Olivier Jeandre Rudolph Paul Schoeman Roelof Smit Gideon van der MerweScrum halves Zenedine Booysen Branden de Kock Rewan Kruger Juan Dee Olivier Ruan PienaarFly halves Reinhardt Fortuin George Lourens Siya Masuku Centres Evardi Boshoff David Brits Robert Ebersohn Francois SteynWingers Enver Brandt Thoubaan Gabriels Xolisa Guma Munier Hartzenberg Daniel Kasende Tapiwa Mafura Marcell MullerFullbacks Cohen Jasper Andell Loubser Siyasanga Sazile Siba Xamlashe cc Denotes team co captains and Bold denotes internationally capped Springboks EditName YearBoetie McHardy 1912Hennie Potgieter 1928Tiny Francis 1931 32Jack Gage 1933Lappies Hattingh 1933Flip Geel 1949Piet Wessels 1951 52Basie Vivier 1956Harry Walker 1953Popeye Strydom 1955Chris de Wilzem 1956Bennie van Niekerk 1960 61Gert Cilliers 1963Nelie Smith 1963John Wessels 1965Piet Goosen 1965Sakkie van Zyl 1965Louis Slabber 1965 Name YearPiet Greyling 1967Joggie Jansen 1970Jackie Snyman 1974Gerrie Germishuys 1974Leon Vogel 1974Jan Schlebusch 1974Johan de Bruyn 1974Gerrie Sonnekus 1974Kleintjie Grobler 1974Rampie Stander 1974Andre Bestbier 1974Edrich Krantz 1976De Wet Ras 1976Theuns Stofberg 1976Hermanus Potgieter 1977Dirk Froneman 1977Barry Wolmarans 1977Martiens le Roux 1980Gysie Pienaar 1980 Name YearEben Jansen 1981Rudi Visagie 1984Jaco Reinach 1986Christo Ferreira 1986Helgard Muller 1986Andre Joubert 1989Johan Styger 1992Ruben Kruger 1993Hentie Martens 1993Naka Drotske 1993Ollie le Roux 1994Brendan Venter 1994Chris Badenhorst 1994Os du Randt 1994Andre Venter 1996Werner Swanepoel 1997Rassie Erasmus 1997Jannie de Beer 1997Braam Els 1997 Name YearWillie Meyer 1997Hendro Scholtz 2002Friedrich Lombard 2002CJ van der Linde 2002Juan Smith 2003Gerrie Britz 2004Hanyani Shimange 2004Michael Claassens 2004Gurthro Steenkamp 2004Meyer Bosman 2005Bevin Fortuin 2006Kabamba Floors 2006Jannie du Plessis 2007Barend Pieterse 2007Adriaan Strauss 2008Jongi Nokwe 2008Heinrich Brussow 2008Wian du Preez 2009Coenie Oosthuizen 2010 Name YearAshley Johnson 2010Johan Goosen 2012Raymond Rhule 2012Trevor Nyakane 2013Piet van Zyl 2013Cornal Hendricks 2014Lood de Jager 2014Oupa Mohoje 2014Francois Venter 2016Uzair Cassiem 2016Ox Nche 2018Rosko Specman 2021References Edit Currie Cup Players Free State Cheetahs Retrieved 13 March 2023 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Free State Cheetahs amp oldid 1159636976, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
