Cheetahs (rugby union)

This article is about the South African rugby union team. For the Central African subspecies, see Sudan cheetah.
Cheetahs
Union South African Rugby Union
Emblem(s) Cheetah
Founded 2005
Location Bloemfontein, South Africa
Region Free State
Northern Cape
Ground(s) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein (Capacity: 48,000)
Coach(es) Franco Smith
Captain(s) Francois Venter
League(s) Super Rugby
2016 3rd (Africa 1 Conference)
6th (South African Group)
14th (overall)
Team kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.fscheetahs.co.za

The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. They are based at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State province, the same as that of provincial Currie Cup side the Free State Cheetahs. Between 2006 and 2015, the Griffons from the eastern half of the Free State province and Griquas from the Northern Cape province were Cheetahs franchise partners, but this ended prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season.[1]

The Cheetahs was one of the two new franchises that entered the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006, the other being Australia's Western Force. The Central Union was awarded the fifth South African franchise over the SEC franchise in April 2005. In its first season the Cheetahs did surprisingly well, finishing tenth in the final standings, out of 14 sides. Prior to being accepted into the 2006 Super 14 season, the Cheetahs areas were represented as a part of the Cats franchise. In addition, before South Africa entered franchises into the Super 14, the Free State Currie Cup side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season.[2]

Strip

The primary strip for the Toyota Cheetahs is an white jersey with an orange collar and orange trim. White 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 an orange jersey with an white collar and dark-orange trim. Orange shorts with orange socks and white trim.

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.[2] 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.[3]

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, 29 to 19.

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.

Stadiums

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 standings

Season Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts Comments
1997 7th 11 5 0 6 301 327 –26 5 25
2006 10th 13 5 0 8 272 367 –95 7 27
2007 11th 13 4 1 8 265 342 –77 4 22
2008 13th 13 1 0 12 255 428 –173 9 13
2009 14th 13 2 0 11 213 341 –128 4 12
2010 10th 13 5 1 7 316 393 –77 4 26
2011 11th 16 5 0 11 435 437 –2 12 40
2012 10th 16 5 0 11 391 458 –67 10 38
2013 6th 16 10 0 6 382 358 +24 6 54 Lost Qualifier
2014 14th 16 4 1 11 372 527 −155 6 24
2015 12th 16 5 0 11 357 531 −174 6 26
2016 14th 15 4 0 11 377 425 −48 5 21

Current squad

For player movements before and during the 2017 season, see List of 2016–17 Super Rugby transfers § Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs announced the following squad for the 2017 Super Rugby season:[4]

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.

Coaches

Captains

References

  1. ↑ "It's a new generation Cheetah!" (Press release). Cheetahs. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Central Cheetahs". CRFU. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
  3. ↑ "TashiTagg". Who Will Get The Fifth Franchise?. Retrieved 19 February 2006.
  4. ↑ "Cheetahs pak Stormers in Zim" [Cheetahs take on Stormers in Zimbabwe]. Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 19 November 2016.

External links

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