Free State Cheetahs
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 | Franco Smith | ||
| Coach(es) | Daan Human | ||
| Captain(s) | Oupa Mohojé | ||
| League(s) | Currie Cup | ||
| 2018 | 7th | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www.fscheetahs.co.za | |||
 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 won the Currie Cup only five 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.
Contents
1 History
2 Other teams
3 Currie Cup finals
4 Current squad
5 Springboks
6 References
7 External links
History[edit]
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[edit]
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.
Currie Cup finals[edit]
| 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 | Transvaal1 | 56 - 35 | Orange Free State | Springbok Park, Bloemfontein |
| 1997 | Western Province | 14 - 12 | Free State Cheetahs2 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 2004 | Blue Bulls3 | 42 - 33 | Free State Cheetahs | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2005 | Free State Cheetahs | 29 - 25 | Blue Bulls | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2006 | Free State Cheetahs | 28 - 284 | Blue Bulls | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein |
2007 | Free State Cheetahs | 20 - 18 | Golden Lions1 | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein |
2009 | Blue Bulls | 36 - 24 | Free State Cheetahs | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
2016 | Free State Cheetahs | 36 - 16 | Blue Bulls | Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein |
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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[edit]
A number of contracted players are playing with the Cheetahs in the 2018–19 Pro14.
The following players were named in the squad for the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division:[1]
| Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup squad | ||
|---|---|---|
Props
Hookers
Locks
| Loose forwards
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
| Centres
Wingers
Fullbacks
|
| (c) Denotes team captain and Bold denotes internationally capped. |
Springboks[edit]
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| |
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References[edit]
^ "Squad: Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 14 September 2018..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
External links[edit]
- Official website
Currie Cup | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams |
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| Seasons |
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Categories:
- Rugby clubs established in 1895
- South African rugby union teams
- Bloemfontein
- Sport in the Free State (province)
- 1895 establishments in the Orange Free State
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