Cheetahs
Toyota Cheetahs can seal their place in the Guinness PRO14 Final Series, in their first season in the Championship, if they defeat Munster Rugby at the Toyota Stadium tonight.
It’s third meets second in Conference A and it’s sure to be a much closer contest than when Munster thrashed the Cheetahs 51-18 at Thomond Park in the second round of the season.
The Cheetahs took a big step towards the play-offs last week as a late penalty try gave them a dramatic 29-27 victory over Cardiff Blues, while Munster ensured their season will be extended last weekend by defeating Southern Kings 39-22.
Dragons (10) 17 / 29 (3) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Newport Gwent Dragons and the Toyota Cheeaths did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 / 2018 at
Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales at 21:35 SA Time (19:35 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (16) 26 / 25 (15) Connaght (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Connaght Rugby did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 / 2018 at
The Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 19:35 SA Time (17:35 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Glasgow Warriors welcome back second row pair Scott Cummings and Tim Swinson and centre Sam Johnson for the visit of the Toyota Cheetahs tonight, kick-off 7.35pm UK time, 9.35pm SA time.
Scotland international Swinson has been out of action with a hand injury since November, Johnson suffered a broken jaw in the game against Montpellier in December and Cummings has been out since the beginning of the year.
All three come straight into the starting XV, Swinson and Cummings starting behind a front row of Alex Allan, James Malcolm and Siua Halanukonuka.
Behind them Rob Harley captain’s the side and equals Graeme Morrison’s record for all time Glasgow Warriors appearances, playing his 177th game for the club.
Blues (15) 25 / 20 (10) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Cardiff Blues and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 / 2018 at
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales at 21:35 SA Time (19:35 UK Time, 19:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (24) 45 / 24 (17) Kings (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 / 2018 at
the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Kings (7) 21 / 45 (24) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 / 2018 at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Benetton (5) 27 / 21 (9) Cheetahs (Final Score)
Benetton Rugby and the Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 / 2018 at
Stadio Monico, Treviso, Italy at 15:15 SA Time (14:15 Italy Time, 13:15 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (14) 33 / 13 (0) Edinburgh (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Edinburgh Rugby did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 19:30 SA Time (17:30 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Connaught (13) 23 / 15 (3) Cheetahs (Final Score)
Connaught and the Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
the Sportsground, Galway, Ireland at 21:35 SA Time (19:35 UK Time & GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Zebre (16) 23 / 24 (8) Cheetahs (Final Score)
Zebre and the Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Italy at 18:00 SA Time (18:00 Italy Time, 16:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 2 on TV in SA.
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Golden Lions (13) 44 / 17 (10) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Xerox Golden Lions and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (17) 26 / 29 (10) Glasgow Warriors (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Glasgow Warriors did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 20:35 SA Time (19:35 UK Time, 18:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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FS Cheetahs (22) 36 / 64 (26) Blue Bulls (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Toyota Stadium, South Africa at 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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For someone who is both a Blue Bulls and Glasgow Warriors Fan there will be fewer places in the world to rather be than in Bloemfontein on Friday night. Unfortunately though this will not be possible, but the action will still be followed with much interest from many miles away.
Glasgow Warriors face the Toyota Cheetahs in their first trip to South Africa in the Guinness PRO14 while the Blue Bulls travel to Bloemfontein to take on the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in a must win Currie Cup game. It feels quite odd though that the once mighty Blue Bulls who would normally take centre stage will be playing in the curtain raiser to the BIG GAME – the PRO14 one.
“When you put your hand in a fence where there is a lion, you will get bitten.”
For most people that’s good advice. Unfortunately for Wales and Ospreys hooker Scott Baldwin the advice came a little too late.
That’s because they are the wise words of Baldwin’s boss Steve Tandy, after the 29-year-old missed his team’s latest Pro14 fixture because he had been bitten by a lion. While trying to pet it.
“There was an incident with a lion, but in fairness it was nothing to do with the lion,” Tandy said, clearly keen to absolve the big cat of any blame.
The incident happened during a team trip to Weltevrede Game Lodge on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, before the Ospreys’ Pro14 match against their appropriately named hosts, the Cheetahs.
Everyone present on the visit was, according to Tandy, given plenty of warning not to stick their hand into the lion’s den.
Cheetahs (19) 38 / 19 (5) Leinster (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Leinster did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 20:00 SA Time (19:00 UK Time, 18:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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FS Cheetahs (12) 33 / 32 (15) Pumas (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Steval Pumas did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 17:30 SA Time (15:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (19) 54 / 39 (18) Zebre (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Zebre did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 19:30 SA Time (19:30 Italy Time, 17:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Munster (22) 51 / 18 (6) Cheetahs (Final Score)
Munster and the Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland at 18:15 SA Time (17:15 UK Time, 16:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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WP (36) 57 / 14 (0) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
DHL Western Province and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
DHL Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Ulster (27) 42 / 19 (14) Cheetahs (Final Score)
Ulster Rugby and the Toyota Cheetahs did battle in the Guinness PRO14 2017 at
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, Ireland at 20:35 SA Time (19:35 UK Time, 18:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Toyota Cheetahs will become the first southern hemisphere side ever to take part in the Guinness PRO14 championship.
The side from Bloemfontein will be making history when they take on Ulster Rugby on Friday evening at 20:35 (SA time) at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, Ireland.
“The Toyota Cheetah players are extremely excited to join this world class championship”, said Toyota Cheetah captain, Neill Jordaan after arriving in Belfast on Wednesday.
Guinness PRO14 will for the first time play under the new Conference format which sees each team play home and away against clubs in their own Conference and then home or away against the other Conference before two more rounds that ensure all derby games are played, which formed an important part the competition up till now.
South Africans who previously played for Ulster are Johann Muller, Ruan Pienaar and Franco van der Merwe.
A truly historic chapter will be written this weekend when the first-ever Guinness PRO14 season kicks off after the addition of the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings from South Africa.
As this world class Championship continues to raise the bar, the introduction of the Cheetahs and the Kings makes the Guinness PRO14 a global tournament. Round 1 also marks the first games played under the new Conference format which sees each team play home and away against clubs in their own Conference and then home OR away against the other Conference before two more rounds that ensure all derby games are played.
The Cheetahs will be the first team from South Africa to go up against ‘northern’ opposition when they travel to Kingspan Stadium on Friday night to face Ulster while the Kings face a daunting trip to Parc Y Scarlets where the men from Llanelli will play their first Championship game since winning the title at Aviva Stadium last May.
FS Cheetahs (13) 30 / 24 (7) Golden Lions (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Xerox Golden Lions did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 17:15 SA Time (15:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Blue Bulls (21) 40 / 41 (17) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa at 14:05 SA Time (12:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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FS Cheetahs (17) 25 / 30 (6) Griquas (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Tafel Lager Griquas did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Pumas (10) 34 / 45 (38) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Steval Pumas and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa at 15:15 SA Time (13:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Celtic Rugby and the South African Rugby Union have today confirmed that the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will join an expanded Guinness PRO14 tournament in time for the upcoming 2017/18 season.
A long-term strategic agreement has been signed by both parties which will allow the participation of two South African franchises in the renamed Guinness PRO14 Championship.
The agreement means that the Championship will take place across the northern and southern hemispheres and marks the first phase of expansion as the Guinness PRO14 becomes a truly global tournament.
This move will contribute to the drive for ever higher standards that we demand across the tournament and provide greater resources to our clubs who will compete in the most testing environment the Championship has ever created.
We can also reassure supporters across the Championship that all current home and away Derby games have been protected – these fixtures are sacrosanct to the tournament and those tribal rivalries are just one element of what makes the Guinness PRO14 so special.
With a new format, new teams and new audiences the Guinness PRO14 – which leads World Rugby statistics for Positive Play – will hit even greater heights in 2017/18.
FS Cheetahs (17) 47 / 12 (7) Sharks (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Cell C Sharks did battle in the Currie Cup 2017 at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs are set for September start up north
It is understood a deal to expand the Pro12 to 14 teams from next season has been agreed.
The South African sides Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings will join the league after losing their Super Rugby status.
The 6-year deal is likely to benefit the league to the tune of an extra £6m per season from the South African Rugby Union and additional television income.
All elements of the deal have been agreed and, once legally ratified, could be formally announced next week.
The new Pro14 league will kick-off in the first week of September and will comprise 2 conferences of 7 teams. Each conference will have 1 Scottish side, 1 South African side, 1 Italian side and 2 each from Wales and Ireland.
Kings (12) 20 / 21 (3) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Toyota Cheeaths did battle in Super Rugby 2017 at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Cheetahs and the Kings will not play Super Rugby in 2018. SA Rugby confirmed the news on Friday, with the Cheetahs having agreed to a settlement.
Both the Kings and the Cheetahs agreed that they would be seeking other international opportunities, with a move to the Pro12 in Europe reportedly an option.
The Cheetahs had an agreement in place to play Super Rugby until 2020, but the board of the franchise decided on an amicable settlement with SA Rugby.
“The board of the Cheetahs has reviewed the team’s future and is extremely positive about the prospect of appearing in alternative international competitions,” Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster said.
“It will be an exciting challenge for our players, supporters and commercial partners and will be the start of a new chapter for rugby both in our region and in South Africa. Also, it will allow the Cheetahs to carve out a new and prominent place on the rugby map in South Africa as well as internationally.”
Cheetahs (17) 34 / 40 (26) Stormers (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby 2017 at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa at 15:05 SA Time (13:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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South African teams Cheetahs and Southern Kings are set to join the Pro12 as early as September 2017.
The two sides are expected to be cut by South African rugby union authorities from Super Rugby on Friday, 7 July as the southern hemisphere competition is reduced from 18 to 15 teams.
That will pave the way for them to join teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy in a 14-team league.
The new format is set to start for the 2017-18 season.
Celtic Rugby Limited – which governs the Pro12 – Cheetahs, Southern Kings and the South African Rugby Union have all been contacted by BBC Wales Sport but declined to comment.
Teams will play on a home and away basis but what has yet to be agreed is the format of the competition, whether it will be played as one 14-team league or more likely two conferences of seven.
There has been speculation the South African sides could play some of their home matches in the United Kingdom, with Saracens’ Allianz Arena mooted as a potential venue.