The Cheetahs, known as the Toyota Cheetahs for sponsorship reasons, is a South African professional rugby union team based in Bloemfontein in the Free State Province. They compete annually in the Currie Cup and SA Cup domestically, and have been an invitational team in the European Challenge Cup since 2022–23 season. Formerly known as Orange Free State, they were originally established in 1895.

Between 2006 and 2017, and again in 2020, the Cheetahs were one of five South African franchise teams in the Super Rugby competition, an inter-continental rugby union franchise competition. After being cut from the Super Rugby following the 2017 season, the Cheetahs were admitted to the Pro14, a franchise rugby union competition based in Europe. The Cheetahs, alongside the Southern Kings, competed in the European-based Pro14 from South Africa until the 2019–20 season.

The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State Province. Between 2006 and 2015, the from the eastern half of the Free State and from the Northern Cape province were Cheetahs franchise partners, but this ended prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season.

Strip The primary strip for the Toyota Cheetahs is an orange jersey with a white collar and white trim. Black shorts with orange socks and white trim. The colours are representative of the Free State Currie Cup side; orange and white (Free State Cheetahs). The alternative jersey is the same design, though it is a white jersey with an orange collar and orange trim. Black shorts with orange socks and white trim. designed by Lutkin Kemp

History Prior to South Africa entering franchises into the then Super 12, the domestic Currie Cup sides competed instead. The Free State Cheetahs, one of the sides that make up the current Central Cheetahs, competed in one Super 12 season in 1997. The Free State played 11 matches, winning 5 and losing 6. They placed 7th on the end of season standings.

Proposals by the Central Union franchise and the SEC (Southern and Eastern Cape) franchise were studied for the allocation of a fifth Super Rugby team licence. The Central Union emphasized points to the SARU such as that the region is second only to the Western Province in terms of producing players for the national side. The Central Union noted that they have a strong and stable fanbase that would be able to meet financial and administrative responsibilities and demands of a Super 14 rugby side.

In mid April 2005, the South African Rugby Union announced that the Central Unions franchise would be its fifth team for the expanded Super 14 competition that would begin in 2006. They were awarded the franchise ahead of the Southern and Eastern Cape (see Southern Spears). In the pre-season of their entrance to the new look Super 14 competition, the Cheetahs played both of the other new franchises, new Australian team; the Western Force and 2007 fellow South African team, the Southern Spears. The Cheetahs proved to be the strongest out of the new sides, demolishing the Spears 48 to nil and soundly defeating the Force in Perth.

The Cheetahs played their first game on 10 February, proving they are fighting fit, but were not good enough on the day for the South African Bulls, losing their first official match in Bloemfontein 18 points to 30. The Cheetahs won their first Super 14 game in week two, defeating the Sharks in a thrilling match seeing the Cheetahs win by a single point, 27 to 26. Entering round four of the 2006 season, the Cheetahs were facing the table leaders, the Hurricanes. In a surprise result, the Cheetahs beat the table leaders, thus winning their first home game and proving they deserve to be in the Super 14.

The Cheetahs finally broke their drought in overseas matches with an upset over the New South Wales Waratahs on 19 March 2011.

Following SANZAAR's decision to reduce the number of teams for 2018, the South African Rugby Union announced that the Cheetahs would be one of the teams cut from the 2018 competition. Instead, the Cheetahs joined the previously Northern Hemisphere-exclusive Pro14 competition prior to the 2017–18 season.

The Cheetahs were unable to compete in the 2020–21 Pro14 due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. Instead, the team played the Super Rugby Unlocked in late 2020 and the Preparation Series in early 2021. However, the Cheetahs were not invited into the Pro14 Rainbow Cup. The Pro14 was rebranded as the United Rugby Championship for the 2021–22, and the team was not selected to enter it.

Since 2022, the Cheetahs play in the EPCR Challenge Cup as an invited team.

Currie Cup 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. They first won the competition in 1976 and have won the competition a further seven occasions (2005, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2019 & 2023). In the 1990s the side became the Free State Cheetahs. The side has also competed in further domestic competitions including the Vodacom Cup, Bankfin Nite Series, SuperSport Rugby Challenge, Toyota Challenge and SA Cup.

Currie Cup finals SeasonWinnersScoreRunner-upVenue1973Northern Transvaal30–22Orange Free StateLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria1975Northern Transvaal12–6Orange Free StateFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein1976Orange Free State33–16Western ProvinceFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein1977Northern Transvaal27–12Orange Free StateLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria1978Northern Transvaal13–9Orange Free StateFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein1981Northern Transvaal23–6Orange Free StateLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria1994Transvaal156–35Orange Free StateSpringbok Park, Bloemfontein1997Western Province14–12Free State Cheetahs2Newlands, Cape Town2004Blue Bulls342–33Free State CheetahsLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria2005Free State Cheetahs29–25Blue BullsLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria2006Free State Cheetahs28–284Blue BullsFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2007Free State Cheetahs20–18Golden Lions1Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein2009Blue Bulls36–24Free State CheetahsLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria2016Free State Cheetahs36–16Blue BullsFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein2019Free State Cheetahs31–28Golden Lions Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 2023Free State Cheetahs25–17Pumas 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-upVenue2000Free State44–24 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein2008Blue Bulls25–21Free StateLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria2010Blue Bulls31–29Free StateLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Bankfin Nite Series finals

SeasonWinnersScoreRunner-upVenue1996Free State46–34Bloemfontein

Stadium The Cheetahs' home stadium is the Free State Stadium, previously referred to as Vodacom Park for sponsorship purposes, located in Bloemfontein. The stadium had its capacity increased to 48,000 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium is the home of Free State rugby as it is also home to the Free State Cheetahs, a Currie Cup side which produces a large number of players for the Cheetahs franchise. A then-capacity crowd of 37,383 watched the Cheetahs in their first official Super 14 match against the Bulls on 10 February 2006.

The Cheetahs also previously played matches at Griquas Park in Kimberley, the home of the Griqualand West Rugby Union, and at North West Stadium in Welkom, the home of the Griffons Rugby Union.

Season by season record CompetitionSeasonCheetahs seasonsTop try scorerTop point scorerNameTriesNamePointsSuper 14200610th–13580272367–95727 5 81200711th–13481265342–774223 players2 54200813th–131120255428–173913 7 47200914th–132110213341–128311 6 59201011th–13571315393–78426 5 112Super Rugby201111th–165110435437–21240 9 179201210th–165110391458–671038 7 14520136thQualifying final16106038235824654 6 62201414th–164111372527–155624 6 143201513th–164120247434–187622 8 92201614th–154110377425–48521 9 79201713th—154110395551–156521 6 108Pro142017–183rdQuarter-finals211290609554551563 10 862018–196th—218 12 1 541 606 –6112 46 14 1342019–204th— 13 6 7 0 342 280 +62 7 32 10 73Super Rugby Unlocked20204th—632112610620317 4 36Preparation Series20212nd Pool A—4310159105542142 players3 31

Bold indicates current team player

Current squad

The following players have been named in the Cheetahs squad for the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup:

Cheetahs EPCR Challenge Cup squadProps Aranos Coetzee Cameron Dawson Frankie Dos Reis Matome Manyama Tielman Nieuwoudt John Kelly Okonkwo Ben Pitout

Hookers Marko Janse van Rensburg Vernon Paulo Juan Smal Louis van der Westhuizen (c)

Locks Pieter Jansen van Vuren Victor Sekekete Curtly Thomas Pierre-Raymond Uys Juan Venter Carl WegnerLoose forwards Daniel Maartens Thabang Mahlasi Mihlali Mosi Sasko Ndlovu Ramon Uys Arno van der Merwe Gideon van der Merwe Neels Volschenk Sisonke Vumazonke

Scrum-halves Rewan Kruger Jandré Nel

Fly-halves George Lourens Jaco van der WaltCentres De-An Ackermann Carel-Jan Coetzee Zander du Plessis Marco Jansen van Vuren Jooste Nel Franco Smith

Wingers Banie Britz Munier Hartzenberg Ntokozo Makhaza Prince Nkabinde Litha Nkula Shaun Ray James Verity-Amm

Fullbacks Michael Annies Clayton Blommetjies Cohen Jasper (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.

The following players have been included so far in the Cheetahs squad for the 2026 Currie Cup Premier Division:

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

Coaches Rassie Erasmus (2006–2007) Naka Drotské (2008–2015) Franco Smith (2016–2017) Rory Duncan (2017–2018) Franco Smith (2018–2019) Hawies Fourie (2019–2024) Izak van der Westhuizen (2024–2025) François Steyn (2025–present)

Captains Juan Smith (2006–2011) Adriaan Strauss (2012–2014) Francois Uys (2015) Francois Venter (2016–2018) Oupa Mohojé (2018) Tian Meyer (2018–2019) Ruan Pienaar (2020–2022) Victor Sekekete (2022–present)

Former players

Springboks The following players have represented South Africa while representing the Cheetahs: NameYearBoetie McHardy1912Hennie Potgieter1928Tiny Francis1931/32Jack Gage1933Lappies Hattingh1933Flip Geel1949Piet Wessels1951/52Basie Vivier1956Harry Walker1953Popeye Strydom1955Chris de Wilzem1956Bennie van Niekerk1960/61Gert Cilliers1963Nelie Smith1963John Wessels1965Piet Goosen1965Sakkie van Zyl1965Louis Slabber1965 NameYearPiet Greyling1967Joggie Jansen1970Jackie Snyman1974Gerrie Germishuys1974Leon Vogel1974Jan Schlebusch1974Johan de Bruyn1974Gerrie Sonnekus1974Kleintjie Grobler1974Rampie Stander1974André Bestbier1974Edrich Krantz1976De Wet Ras1976Theuns Stofberg1976Hermanus Potgieter1977Dirk Froneman1977Barry Wolmarans1977Martiens le Roux1980Gysie Pienaar1980 NameYearEben Jansen1981Rudi Visagie1984Jaco Reinach1986Christo Ferreira1986Helgard Müller1986André Joubert1989Johan Styger1992Ruben Kruger1993Hentie Martens1993Naka Drotské1993Ollie le Roux1994Brendan Venter1994Chris Badenhorst1994Os du Randt1994André Venter1996Werner Swanepoel1997Rassie Erasmus1997Jannie de Beer1997Braam Els1997 NameYearWillie Meyer1997Hendro Scholtz2002Friedrich Lombard2002CJ van der Linde2002Juan Smith2003Gerrie Britz2004Hanyani Shimange2004Michael Claassens2004Gurthro Steenkamp2004Meyer Bosman2005Bevin Fortuin2006Kabamba Floors2006Jannie du Plessis2007Barend Pieterse2007Adriaan Strauss2008Jongi Nokwe2008Heinrich Brüssow2008Wian du Preez2009Coenie Oosthuizen2010 NameYearAshley Johnson2010Johan Goosen2012Raymond Rhule2012Trevor Nyakane2013Piet van Zyl2013Cornal Hendricks2014Lood de Jager2014Oupa Mohoje2014Francois Venter2016Uzair Cassiem2016Ox Nché2018Rosko Specman2021

Records

Pro14 records

The Cheetahs' Pro14 records are as follows (updated 11 February 2018):