Free State Cheetahs

Free State Cheetahs

Cheetah
Club information
Full name	Free State Cheetahs
Website	fscheetahs.co.za
Colours	Orange & white
Founded	1895
Current details
Ground(s)	Vodacom Park
Coach(s)	Naka Drotské
Competition	Currie Cup

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 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs won the Currie Cup 4 times, three times consecutively from 2005-2007.

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

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

Notes

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

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

Player Position Union Hercú Liebenberg Hooker South Africa Adriaan Strauss Hooker South Africa Michael van Vuuren Hooker South Africa PW van Vuuren Hooker South Africa WP Nel Prop South Africa Trevor Nyakane Prop South Africa Coenie Oosthuizen Prop South Africa Marcel Van Der Merwe Prop South Africa Wilhelm Steenkamp Lock South Africa Francois Uys Lock South Africa Izak Van der Westhuizen Lock South Africa Waltie Vermeulen Lock South Africa Heinrich Brussow Flanker South Africa Lappies Labuschagne Flanker South Africa Pieter Myburgh Flanker South Africa Juan Smith Flanker South Africa Phillip van der Walt Flanker South Africa Johan Wessels Flanker South Africa Boom Prinsloo Number 8 South Africa Ashley Johnson Number 8 South Africa

Player Position Union Enrico Acker Scrum-half South Africa Tewis de Bruyn Scrum-half South Africa Piet van Zyl Scrum-half South Africa Sias Ebersohn Fly-half South Africa Johan Goosen Fly-half South Africa Robert Ebersohn Centre South Africa Philip Snyman Centre South Africa Andries Strauss Centre South Africa Ryno Benjamin Wing South Africa Philip Burger Wing South Africa Cameron Jacobs Wing South Africa Jongi Nokwe Wing South Africa Hennie Daniller Fullback South Africa Nico Scheepers Fullback South Africa Riaan Smit Fullback South Africa

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 Gert Cilliers 1963 Nelie Smith 1963 John Wessels 1965 Piet Goosen 1965 Sakkie van Zyl 1965 Louis Slabber 1965

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

Eben Jansen 1981 Rudie Visagie 1984 Jaco Reinach 1986 Christo Ferreira 1986 Helgard Muller 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

Willie Meyer 1997 Hendro Scholtz 2002 Freidrich 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 Brussow 2008 Wian du Preez 2009 Coenie Oosthuizen 2010

Ashley Johnson 2010

External links

• Official website
• Cheetahs on SARugby.co.za
• Cheetahs on Suparugby.co.za