# Free State Cheetahs

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.
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.
In the 2016 season, they emerged undefeated in the Currie Cup, and beat the Blue Bulls in the final 36 – 16.

## Currie Cup finals

| 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 | Transvaal$^1$ | 56–35 | Orange Free State | Springbok Park, Bloemfontein |
| 1997 | Western Province | 14–12 | Free State Cheetahs$^2$ | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 2004 | Blue Bulls$^3$ | 42–33 | Free State Cheetahs | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2005 | Free State Cheetahs | 29–25 | Blue Bulls | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2006 | Free State Cheetahs | 28–28$^4$ | Blue Bulls | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2007 | Free State Cheetahs | 20–18 | Golden Lions$^1$ | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2009 | Blue Bulls | 36–24 | Free State Cheetahs | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2016 | Free State Cheetahs | 36–16 | Blue Bulls | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2019 | Free State Cheetahs | 31–28 | Golden Lions | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 25–17 | Pumas | 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

| Season | Winners | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
| 2000 | Free State | 44–24 | Griquas | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein |
| 2008 | Blue Bulls | 25–21 | Free State | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2010 | Blue Bulls | 31–29 | Free State | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |

## Bankfin Nite Series finals

| Season | Winners | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
| 1996 | Free State | 46–34 | Border | Bloemfontein |

## Current squad

The following players were included in the Free State Cheetahs squad for the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division:
| Free State Cheetahs Currie Cup squad |
| Props Dolph Botha Aranos Coetzee Marné Coetzee Schalk Ferreira Wayrin Losper Boeta Loubser Nqoba Mxoli Kevin Stevens Alulutho Tshakweni Conraad van Vuuren Hencus van Wyk Lawrence Victor Hookers Jacques Goosen Marko Janse van Rensburg Marnus van der Merwe Louis van der Westhuizen Janus Venter Locks Rynier Bernardo Jean Droste Ruan Janse van Rensburg Sibabalo Qoma Victor Sekekete (c) Johnre Stopforth Mzwanele Zito | Loose forwards George Cronjé Dian Koen Daniel Maartens Thabang Mahlasi Oupa Mohojé Andisa Ntsila Friedle Olivier Jeandré Rudolph Paul Schoeman Roelof Smit Gideon van der Merwe Scrum-halves Zenedine Booysen Branden de Kock Rewan Kruger Juan-Dee Olivier Fly-halves Reinhardt Fortuin George Lourens Siya Masuku | Centres Evardi Boshoff David Brits Wingers Enver Brandt Thoubaan Gabriels Xolisa Guma Munier Hartzenberg Daniel Kasende Tapiwa Mafura Marcell Muller Fullbacks Cohen Jasper Andell Loubser Siyasanga Sazile Siba Xamlashe |
| (cc) Denotes team co-captains and Bold denotes internationally capped. |

## Springboks

| Name | Year |
| Boetie McHardy | 1912 |
| Hennie Potgieter | 1928 |
| Tiny Francis | 1931/32 |
| Jack Gage | 1933 |
| Lappies Hattingh | 1933 |
| Flip Geel | 1949 |
| Piet Wessels | 1951/52 |
| Basie Vivier | 1956 |
| Harry Walker | 1953 |
| Popeye Strydom | 1955 |
| Chris de Wilzem | 1956 |
| Bennie van Niekerk | 1960/61 |
| Gert Cilliers | 1963 |
| Nelie Smith | 1963 |
| John Wessels | 1965 |
| Piet Goosen | 1965 |
| Sakkie van Zyl | 1965 |
| Louis Slabber | 1965 |
| Name | Year |
| Piet Greyling | 1967 |
| Joggie Jansen | 1970 |
| Jackie Snyman | 1974 |
| Gerrie Germishuys | 1974 |
| Leon Vogel | 1974 |
| Jan Schlebusch | 1974 |
| Johan de Bruyn | 1974 |
| Gerrie Sonnekus | 1974 |
| Kleintjie Grobler | 1974 |
| Rampie Stander | 1974 |
| André Bestbier | 1974 |
| Edrich Krantz | 1976 |
| De Wet Ras | 1976 |
| Theuns Stofberg | 1976 |
| Hermanus Potgieter | 1977 |
| Dirk Froneman | 1977 |
| Barry Wolmarans | 1977 |
| Martiens le Roux | 1980 |
| Gysie Pienaar | 1980 |
| Name | Year |
| Eben Jansen | 1981 |
| Rudi Visagie | 1984 |
| Jaco Reinach | 1986 |
| Christo Ferreira | 1986 |
| Helgard Müller | 1986 |
| André Joubert | 1989 |
| Johan Styger | 1992 |
| Ruben Kruger | 1993 |
| Hentie Martens | 1993 |
| Naka Drotské | 1993 |
| Ollie le Roux | 1994 |
| Brendan Venter | 1994 |
| Chris Badenhorst | 1994 |
| Os du Randt | 1994 |
| André Venter | 1996 |
| Werner Swanepoel | 1997 |
| Rassie Erasmus | 1997 |
| Jannie de Beer | 1997 |
| Braam Els | 1997 |
| Name | Year |
| Willie Meyer | 1997 |
| Hendro Scholtz | 2002 |
| Friedrich Lombard | 2002 |
| CJ van der Linde | 2002 |
| Juan Smith | 2003 |
| Gerrie Britz | 2004 |
| Hanyani Shimange | 2004 |
| Michael Claassens | 2004 |
| Gurthro Steenkamp | 2004 |
| Meyer Bosman | 2005 |
| Bevin Fortuin | 2006 |
| Kabamba Floors | 2006 |
| Jannie du Plessis | 2007 |
| Barend Pieterse | 2007 |
| Adriaan Strauss | 2008 |
| Jongi Nokwe | 2008 |
| Heinrich Brüssow | 2008 |
| Wian du Preez | 2009 |
| Coenie Oosthuizen | 2010 |
| Name | Year |
| Ashley Johnson | 2010 |
| Johan Goosen | 2012 |
| Raymond Rhule | 2012 |
| Trevor Nyakane | 2013 |
| Piet van Zyl | 2013 |
| Cornal Hendricks | 2014 |
| Lood de Jager | 2014 |
| Oupa Mohoje | 2014 |
| Francois Venter | 2016 |
| Uzair Cassiem | 2016 |
| Ox Nché | 2018 |
| Rosko Specman | 2021 |