Aidon Davis leading Toyota Cheetahs in first Toyota Challenge match

The Toyota Cheetahs will be making history when they take on DHL Western Province XV on Saturday, 13 November in the first ever Toyota Challenge match.  The action in Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 17:30 with a live broadcast on SuperSport 210.

The Toyota Challenge promises to bring an exciting rugby bonanza and especially for supporters returning to the stadium after 20 months. 

The Toyota Challenge is a new kind of rugby tournament: one where every victory earns a prize of R250 000 and where players will do everything in their power to win cash bonuses for explosive play.Players making the most tackles, line breaks and turnovers on the ground win cash prizes.  

“The Player of the match” will win R10 000 for every match while the supporter who posts the most social media posts during the match with hashtag #ToyotaLegendSupport will win R10 000 and be

Regulations, as prescribed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and SA Rugby’s “Guidelines for the return of spectators to sport events”, limit spectator numbers in the stadium to 2 000. 

Gates open at 16:30 and spectators are urged to come early and to note that the following has to be presented to gain entrance to the Toyota Stadium on a match day:

- A valid rugby ticket - Tickets are on sale at R100 each at the ticket office in the Toyota Stadium. Please remember to purchase your ticket before match day.
- A vaccination certificate (the one with the QR code) - All spectators must be fully vaccinated.
- ID document or driver’s licence
- Wear a mask at all times

More information is available on the Cheetah’s website – cheetahs.rugby

Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty.) Ltd. said:

“We are excited to host the Toyota Challenge and to welcome spectators back to the Toyota Stadium. This is an initiative of Free State Rugby with the extraordinary support of Toyota SA.  Our naming sponsor is making a very large contribution to make this possible and this places us in the spotlight of both international rugby and our supporters who are keen to see the Toyota Cheetahs back in action.

There is excitement in our ranks and the upcoming matches are indeed something to look forward to.

We are grateful to be able to invite back a limited number of spectators to watch these games and teams compete. There is an exciting match line-up against Western Province, Barcelona from Spain, the Sharks and Baia Mare from Romania. 

The Toyota Challenge is an initiative of the Free State Cheetahs in partnership with Toyota SA. Free State did not sit back waiting for the start of the Currie Cup in January 2022 and is hard at work to play international rugby again.”

TEAM:

15. Cohen Jasper
14. Daniel Kasende
13. David Brits
12. Robert Ebersohn
11. Rosko Specman
10. Siya Masuku
9.  Tian Meyer
8. Aidon Davis (C)
7. Thembalani Bohli
6. Gideon van der Merwe
5. Rynier Bernardo
4. Victor Sekekete
3. Beertjie van Vuuren
2. Wilmar Arnoldi
1. Aluluthu Tshakweni

16. Marnus van der Merwe
17. Cameron Dawson
18. Hanro Jacobs
19. Jeandre Labuschagne
20. Oupa Mohoje
21. Zinedine Booysen
22. Brandon Thomson
23. Evardi Boshoff

The referee for the match is Marius van der Westhuizen.  He will be assisted by Griffin Colby and Darren Colby.  The TMO is Cwengile Jadezweni. 

Players not eligible for selection:   Due to injury - Mox Moxoli (wrist), Andisa Ntsila (neck), Jeandre Rudolph (knee), George Cronje (knee), Duncan Saal (bicep), Malcolm Jaer (ankle), Branden de Kock (knee), Craig Barry (hamstring), Marnè Coetzee (calf), Clayton Blommetjies (ankle) and Chris Smit (quad).

Other rugby obligations – Aranos Coetzee and Louis van der Westhuizen (playing for Namibia), Frans Steyn (Springboks), Ruan Pienaar (on loan to Sharks), Junior Pokomela (on loan to Stormers).