CHEETAHS VS 7 APR 15:00 NEW FEEL IT ALL RUGBY UNION ON Toyota_Cheetahs_Rugby_Union_230x165.indd 1 16/08/2017 16:19 CONTENTS CHEETAHS TOYOTA CHEETAHS EDITORIAL TEAM Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd Message Ronel Pienaar Kobus le Roux Guinness Pro 14 CEO Welcome Message Chantelle du Plessis Toyota Sponsor’s Message ADVERTISING AND SUITES Wilna Jurack Free State Rugby Union Message 084 854 4492 Toyota Cheetahs Player Profiles PHOTOGRAPHY Johan Pretorius Toyota Cheetahs Player Profiles TOYOTA CHEETAHS Toyota Cheetahs vs Cardiff Blues MARKETING MANAGER Kobus le Roux Guinness Pro 14 Fixtures & Results COPYRIGHT The official Cheetahs programme is compiled by Yskoud.com under license from Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd. All registered trademarks remain the property of Cheetahs and are used with Cheetahs permission. The views expressed in this programme are not necessarily those of Yskoud.com or Cheetahs. All right reserved. No part of this programme may be reproduced in any form, without the prior arrangement of the Cheetahs. CheetahsRugby www.facebook.com/CheetahsRugby @CheetahsRugby www.fscheetahs.co.za FREE STATE CHEETAHS (PTY) LTD MESSAGE CHEETAHS It is an honour for me to welcome Qualifier of the Final Series. Should everyone to today’s Guinness PRO14 for instance, Munster play against match between the Toyota Cheetahs Ulster in a Pool match and loose, and and Cardiff Blues all the way from the Toyota Cheetahs beat Cardiff Wales in Toyota Stadium. Blues, Munster and the Kings, the Toyota Cheetahs can move up to The Guinness PRO 14 championship second position on the log and play in is drawing to a close with only three a home Semi-Final Qualifier in the and in some instances four, pool Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. How matches left to determine who will wonderful would that be? play in the Guinness PRO14 Final Series. I would like to thank each and every sponsor, season ticket holder, suite The two top teams in Pool A and B will holder and supporter in Toyota go through to the Semi-Final of the Stadium today. We value your Guinness PRO14 Final Series, whilst support and honestly believe that it the second and third teams in the pool can help to get the Toyota Cheetahs will play in a Semi-Final Qualifier. through to the Semi-Final Qualifier of Guinness PRO14. Glasgow Warriors has secured their place as number one in Pool A. Whilst Munster is currently with 58 points in second place, the Toyota Cheetahs with 52 in third position and Cardiff Blues with 47 points in fourth position. The match against Cardiff Blues today is of the upmost importance for both teams to make it through to the Final Ryno Opperman Series. If the Toyota Cheetahs Chairman manage to beat Cardiff Blues we can secure our position in Semi-Final Momentum is a very powerful force and it was thrilling to see four of our clubs piggyback on the positive results in Six Nations to generate some memorable performances in Europe and qualify for the Semi-Finals. All of our clubs work hard to maximise their resources and through world-class talent, coaching and pride in the jersey we’ve seen Scarlets, Leinster and Munster become our representatives in the Champions Cup Semi-Finals. In addition, Cardi Blues – on quite a run right now – earned a home Semi in the Challenge Cup having beaten Edinburgh, who are one of the form teams in the Championship. No matter who you support I hope you take a Championship pride in seeing teams from the Guinness PRO14 having success against some of the best teams in Europe. The attacking intent that Leinster and Scarlets (in particular) brought to their games was a great advert for the style of positive rugby we promote in our Championship. Andrew Conway’s winning eort for Munster was an incredible execution of skill from the second he caught the ball while Cardi Blues resolve in winning away to Edinburgh said a lot about their ambitions for the rest of the season. However, that’s enough about Europe because this weekend’s round of Guinness PRO14 action has thrown up a raft of mouth-watering fixtures. The Conference system has brought more competitive games to the end of the season and now 11 teams have something to play for in the final three rounds compared to eight this time last year. This week Munster and Cardi Blues have travelled to South Africa for the first time. Munster will be warmly welcomed by the Southern Kings to the city of George where Oteniqua Park will join the long list of Championship venues and the Blues and Toyota Cheetahs meet in Bloemfontein with just five points separating them in Conference A. Guinness PRO14 Final Series – How it Stands Qualifier 1: Munster (A2) v Edinburgh (B3) Qualifier 2: Scarlets (B2) v Toyota Cheetahs (A3) Semi-Final 1: Leinster (B1) v Munster or Edinburgh Semi-Final 2: Glasgow Warriors* (A1) v Scarlets or Toyota Cheetahs *Qualified for Final Series Edinburgh will look to bounce back from their loss to Cardi against Ulster where a win will put them into the Guinness PRO14 Final Series for the first time, while Connacht travel to Ospreys with both teams fighting it out to make the Champions Cup Play-O. To cap it all o, Scarlets will face Glasgow Warriors in a game that will showcase the best of the Guinness PRO14 – and it’s a clash we could see repeated in the Final Series! Naturally, every team wants to end up in the Guinness PRO14 Final in Dublin on May 26 but no matter who you support, you can guarantee your place at Aviva Stadium. For the first time the Ocial Guinness PRO14 Final Fanzone will combine with the Dublin 7s to produce a two-day ‘Festival of Rugby’ where you can soak up the atmosphere ahead of the Final with live music, bars, premium areas and player appearances all on oer. To get involved in either Sevens or Tag rugby visit http://bit.ly/GuinnessPRO14Dublin7sPlayerEntry to enter your team into the Dublin 7s and KAARTJIESsave money onAANLYN your PRO14 BESKIKBAAR Final ticket. - And www.fscheetahs.co.za no matter where you’re coming from you can rely on Gullivers Sports Travel to arrange tickets, hotels and flights as our Ocial Supporter Travel Partner for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series – see www.gulliverstravel.co.uk. For all your Guinness PRO14 Final ticket needs, including the Fanzone, get along to www.ticketmaster.ie now where prices start at €10 for children and €35 for adults. Enjoy the game, Martin Anayi Chief Executive Ocer SOUTH AFRICA vs ENGLAND 16 june 2018 TOYOTA STADIUM BLOEMFONTEIN TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE AT FSCHEETAHS.CO.ZA OR AT THE TOYOTA STADIUM TICKET OFFICE Kingsway Area Alcohol Area Free Alcohol Free Att Horak Avenue R850 R600 R450 R350 R150 R100 NIEL MARAIS TOYOTA SPONSOR’S MESSAGE Welcome to today’s Guinness Pro 14 test us and show the world what we are match here at Toyota Stadium. made of. We applaud the fighting spirit that you have and the opportunity to show It is amazing how rugby has changed over new markets and new regions what the past 12 months. This time last year the Toyota Cheetahs rugby means to all of us. Toyota Cheetahs were in the Vodacom We will be beside you as you embark on Super Rugby tournament and now they this new challenge, and will continue to face new, exciting and sometimes show the support we have provided over unknown opposition in the Pro14 tourna- the past few years as not only a sponsor, ment. but as a proud partner of Toyota Chee- tahs. A year is a long time in rugby it seems. Still, there are things that haven’t To the opposition – welcome to Toyota changed, things that have improved and Stadium. The battles will be tough and things that will improve even more. uncompromising, but we are sure you will experience some of our world-famous Not only are the Toyota Cheetahs doing Free State hospitality during your stay. ground-breaking work by competing against the best of the Northern Hemi- Enjoy the match sphere, they are charting a new way forward and creating a breeding ground of players who understand the conditions, and what it takes to succeed in this new environment. This has always been the Toyota Cheetahs way, to play an attractive brand of rugby and to develop top class players that South Africa can be proud of. Toyota has Andrew Kirby always been the catalyst for success in President and CEO supporting the players in the team and of Toyota South Africa our partnership is stronger than ever, ensuring the Toyota Cheetahs can enter this bold new world with both confidence and strength. To Franco Smith and his team, we stand with you as you enter this new battle- ground, this new challenge that will both FREE STATE RUGBY UNION MESSAGE CHEETAHS It is a privilege for me as President of May you all enjoy this day and the Free State Rugby Union to especially the camaraderie of rugby welcome everyone at tonight’s friends. Guinness PRO14 in Toyota Stadium. I would like to extend a warm word of welcome to our opponents, Cardiff Blues from Wales. We hope that you’ve enjoyed the hospitality in the City of Roses. Today we welcome you, our loyal supporters and also thank you for your wonderful support. Your support encourages the team and motivates them to reach bigger heights. Jerry Segwaba It’s great to see the level of passion President and commitment of fans who live and breathe every kick, every hit, every call and every try.