Free State Cheetahs
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| Full name | Free State Cheetahs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Free State Rugby Union | ||
| Emblem(s) | Cheetah | ||
| Founded | 1895 | ||
| Region | Free State, South Africa | ||
| Ground(s) | Free State Stadium (Capacity: 48,000) | ||
| Director of Rugby | Rory Duncan | ||
| Coach(es) |
Franco Smith / MJ Smith | ||
| Captain(s) | Francois Uys | ||
| League(s) | Currie Cup | ||
| 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division |
4th on log (Lost in semi-finals) | ||
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| Official website | |||
|
www | |||
 Current season | |||
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 only won the Currie Cup 4 times. However, they have been one of the most successful teams in recent history, 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. 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.
Finals results
Currie Cup
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
Super Rugby squad
The following players are contracted to the Free State Cheetahs and were included in the Cheetahs squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season:[1]
| Cheetahs Super Rugby squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers Locks |
Loose Forwards
Scrum-halves Fly-halves |
Centres
Wingers
Fullbacks |
| (c) Denotes team captain and Bold denotes internationally capped. |
Currie Cup qualification squad
While the Free State Rugby Union also enters a team into the secondary Vodacom Cup / Currie Cup qualification competition on an annual basis, this team is not known as the Free State Cheetahs, instead competing as a Free State XV. While these matches still have first class status, they are not classified as appearances for the Free State Cheetahs.
In addition to the Super Rugby players above, the following players were included in the Free State XV squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series:[2]
| Free State XV Currie Cup qualification squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Loose Forwards
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
|
Centres
Wingers
Fullbacks
|
| (c) denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped. |
Springboks
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References
- ↑ "Vodacom Super Rugby – Toyota Cheetahs 2016 Wider Group". Cheetahs. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "2016 Toyota Free State XV Currie Cup season". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
External links
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