Cheetahs (rugby union)
| Union | South African Rugby Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Cheetah | ||
| Founded | 1895 | ||
| Location | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | ||
| Region | Free State Northern Cape | ||
| Ground | Free State Stadium (Capacity: 46,000) | ||
| Coach | François Steyn | ||
| Captain | Louis van der Westhuizen (All) | ||
| League(s) | European Rugby Challenge Cup Currie Cup SA Cup | ||
| 2024–25 & 2025 | ERCC DNQ 4th overall 2025 CC Semi-finalist 4th overall | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
| Current season | |||
The Cheetahs (known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs), is a South African professional rugby union team based at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. They competed in Super Rugby between 2006 and 2017 and in 2020, then the Pro14 (now United Rugby Championship) from 2017 to 2020. They currently compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup and the South African domestic Currie Cup competition. Formerly known as Orange Free State they were originally established in 1895.
The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State province. 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.
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 were represented as a part of the Cats. In addition, before the South African Rugby Union entered regionalised franchises into the competition, the Free State Cheetahs side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season.