Latest news with #Cheetahs
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Boland Cavaliers finally adding sweet dessert to club rugby's bread and butter
Boland Cavaliers players celebrate their dramatic win over the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Image: Backpagepix Club rugby is more than just a casual pastime in the Boland. In these parts it's more like a religion, and Saturdays are when supporters fill their spiritual cups. Club rugby is the heart and soul of many communities, with people playing organised rugby from Wellington in the Winelands to Saldanha on the West Coast; to Grabouw in the Overberg to Van Rhynsdorp close to the Northern Cape border. Boland boast around 220 clubs and about 24,000 registered players, by far the most of any other union in the country. All of this culminates at the end of the season into the Boland Top 12, which is a fiercely contested competition, with the best of the best competing to be the union's top team. Those games, especially the semi-finals and finals at Boland Stadium, are normally packed to the rafters with supporters coming to support their teams from far and wide. However, the massive support hasn't always spilled over to the Boland Cavaliers provincial team, who before last Sunday's Currie Cup opener against the Cheetahs had plaed in an enpty stadium for the longest time. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The club rugby is big and well-supported, the bread and butter for all of these towns. The clubs are better supported than Boland and we would like to change that and get them behind us in the Currie Cup,' coach Hawies Fourie told Independent Media following their return to the Premier Division of the Currie Cup. But Fourie's wish came true on Sunday when the supporters rocked up on a perfect Winelands winter's day to support the team on their return to the Currie Cup. Boland capped off a spectacular day's rugby with a try eight minutes after the hooter had gone to beat Frans Steyn's Cheetahs. Club rugby rivals in the stands embraced as their provincial side announced their arrival back into top-flight rugby with a bang. For the union, being in the Currie Cup is just a stepping stone to something great after South Africa's richest men Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe purchased the professional arm in an equality deal. The goal is franchise rugby and competing in competitions such as the United Rugby Championship sooner rather than later. The Boland region is a gold mine for rugby talent if you look at the amount of players the schools and clubs produce. But many of those players are normally snapped up by other unions who can offer money and a path to the Springboks by playing in the big competitions. But Boland's ambitions to grow and put high-performance plans in place to keep the cream of the crop at home - with the help of Rupert and Motsepe's money - could see them become a proper rugby superpower. Donovan Don gets it over in the corner 😤🔥 What a win for the Boland Cavaliers in front of their home crowd 🏉#CarlingCurrieCup | #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 27, 2025 Such a pipeline from club rugby to the very top will help players who normally fall through the cracks that chance to reach their dreams and inspire those around them in their communities. It's something that Fourie is very passionate about. 'The purpose of this team (Boland) is to inspire our community. It is really important for us to show the people in the Boland that we can compete at a high level and inspire the young kids to play rugby and make a living from it,' Fourie said after the Cheetahs win. 'We need to give back to the community, and the way that we played and the character that we showed in the last six to seven minutes of the game will inspire a lot of people. 'We would just like to thank everyone who took the time on a Sunday afternoon to come and support us here in Wellington, we appreciate it.' Club rugby remains the bread and butter of the Boland region, but supporters can now look forward to the Cavaliers as the sweet dessert that brings the whole rugby meal together.
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
Senior cheetah Kulinda enjoys her golden years
Kulinda the Cheetah just turned 12 years old and is enjoying her retirement in Melbourne's Werribee Open Range Zoo. Cheetahs are known to live up to eight years in the wild.
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Don strikes late as Boland sink Cheetahs in 88-minute Currie Cup thriller
Donavan Don scored in the dying moments to hand the Boland Cavaliers a dramatic 37-35 win over the Cheetahs in Wellington. Boland dominated early proceedings, smashing into contact and putting pressure on the Cheetahs at scrum time and the breakdown. Fullback James Tedder slotted two penalties to reward Boland's pressure and maintain the scoreboard pressure against an unsettled Cheetahs side. Ashlon Davids finished a flowing move to score the opening try, with Tedder's conversion pushing Boland into a 13–0 lead. The Cheetahs were punished for sloppy restarts and lineout errors as Boland enjoyed almost complete control in the first quarter. Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg pounced on an overthrow to grab Free State's first try and shift momentum toward the visitors. Scrumhalf Rewan Kruger darted through a gap to score and give the Cheetahs a 14–13 lead midway through the half. David Brits hit back almost immediately for Boland after poor Cheetahs defence allowed him space out wide to dive over. Gideon van der Merwe was yellow-carded, and Boland capitalised as Davids raced away to score his second of the match. The hosts led 27–14 at half-time, having bounced back from a mini wobble with sharp counter-attacking play and clinical finishing. Despite Boland's strong finish to the half, the Cheetahs showed signs they still had more to offer after the break. Replacement Carel-Jan Coetzee finished a solid phase buildup to get the Cheetahs going early in the second half. Van der Merwe made amends with a powerful try from close range, before Vernon Paulo rumbled over to make it 35–27. Boland's energy dipped noticeably as the visitors took control of possession, territory and tempo midway through the second period. The Cheetahs looked set for victory before Paulo's late yellow card shifted momentum at the worst possible moment. Marcqiewn Titus scored on the stroke of full-time, giving Boland a shot at a miracle comeback win in added time. Boland retained the restart and launched wave after wave of attacks against a desperate Cheetahs defence in added time. Cheetahs tackled bravely but couldn't clear their lines or force a turnover during nearly eight minutes of extra time. Eventually, Donavon Don found space and sprinted clear to score the match-winning try and spark wild celebrations in Wellington. It was a moment of composure, precision and pace as Don read the defence perfectly and finished under heavy pressure. Boland next face Griquas in Kimberley, while the Cheetahs regroup at home ahead of a clash with the Pumas. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Currie Cup result: Boland stun Cheetahs in Wellington
Both teams scored five tries in a hugely entertaining game. The Boland Cavaliers got their 2025 Currie Cup campaign off to the perfect start when they stunned the Cheetahs 37-35 in their opening game in Wellington on Sunday afternoon. Hawies Fourie's team qualified for the top-eight Premier Division of the Currie Cup after performing well in the SA Cup competition some months ago. The newcomers to the Premier Division dominated the opening half of the match and led 27-14 at half-time. But the Cheetahs responded with an energised second half performance and looked to have sewn the match up deep into the half. But two late tries by the Bolanders, the final one well into over-time, secured a dramatic win for Fourie and his charges. Both teams scored five tries in a hugely entertaining game. The Cheetahs' coaching staff of Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar will not be happy after their side got back into the game in the second half, just to give it away at the end. The Cheetahs are next up against the Pumas at home on Friday, while Boland take on Griquas in Kimberley next Sunday. In the other matches this weekend, the Pumas beat Griquas 49-28 in Mbombela, the Lions beat the Sharks 46-5 in Joburg and the Bulls beat Western Province 48-23 in Cape Town.
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Cheetahs celebrate 130 years in style … but they need bigger and better competition
The Cheetahs have contributed greatly to the history of South African rugby and need to be better recognised by the governing body. 'Welcome to the Republic of the Free State, officially the 11th best rugby nation in the world,' Cheetahs backline coach Ruan Pienaar proudly declared in welcoming guests from title sponsor Toyota into the Vodacom Stadium dressing room last Friday night. The jubilant group of players and team management roared with delight in response to this tongue-in-cheek yet food-for-thought statement. They had just held on bravely to beat Georgia, number 11 in the rugby world rankings, 24-20 in Bloemfontein. It was a warm-up match for the full-strength Georgia national team before playing the Springboks in a one-off Test in Mbombela. A remarkable achievement for a side perennially overlooked for URC participation. On a chilly Free State winter's evening, the young Cheetahs team produced the kind of rugby the union is renowned for. The kind of free-flowing running rugby that earned them loyal support around the country and usually resulted in many more fans crawling from the closet before big finals. Cheetah debutant winger Ntokozo Makhaza scored the winning try – his second of the night – late in the second half to send the 11,000-strong crowd into ecstasy. It was a rugby festival in true Bloem style that included a music show before the match, the customary Harley-Davidsons before kick-off and a half-time kicking contest which to win requires not only clearing the bar, but landing the ball on the back of a bakkie. Talk about a tough crowd. Cheetahs fans are desperate for more international rugby, as seen here during they good days of Super Rugby in 2017. Picture: Lee Warren/Gallo Images Decorated history Giving the occasion additional impetus was that it coincided with the union's 130th birthday and the 15th anniversary of the Toyota sponsorship. The latter has just been renewed with the addition of not only new vehicles, but also financial support for the almost-completed gym at the Cheetahs Rugby Academy. Next to the gym, which is in the building adjacent to the stadium that used to host post-match receptions for players, their families and administrators dating back to the amateur era, a museum will follow. This promises to be a special place to remind and celebrate – or even educate – younger generations just how handsomely the union contributes to the country's overall rugby picture. Not only through its senior ranks, but also by means of a highly decorated feeder system with schools like Grey College and tertiary institutions like the University of the Free State. A quick glance around the Vodacom Stadium's dressing room is a timely reminder of the wealth of players featuring in the union's storied history. Underneath the number on every player's locker is a list of players to have donned that particular jersey. Here you'll find an impressive bunch of names that have played their part in every one of the Boks' four World Cup triumphs. The career paths of Andre Venter, Ruben Kruger, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt, Pieter Muller, Andre Joubert, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jannie du Plessis, Juan Smith, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen, Trevor Nyakane and Ox Nche all went through the City of Roses. Not to mention Bok boss Rassie Erasmus, who transitioned from player to end the Cheetahs' 29-year wait for the Currie Cup in his very first coaching gig in 2005. The union's close-knit family bond, which also saw Franco Smith evolve from Cheetahs player to Varsity Cup-winning coach with Shimlas straight into winning the Currie Cup with the Cheetahs, is as strong as ever. Rassie Erasmus speaks to his players during a Currie Cup match between the Cheetahs and Western Province in 2004. Picture: Tertius Pickard \ Gallo Images Rich contribution to SA rugby These days Rory Duncan, who lifted the Currie Cup as captain under Drotske in 2007, is pulling the strings as CEO of Free State Rugby, alongside COO and another former player, MJ Smith. Steyn is the Director of Rugby and head coach alongside Pienaar, who both started and finished their careers in Bloem. Behind them, recently-retired Cheetahs legend and former Bok Oupa Mohoje has started cutting his coaching teeth at the Cheetahs' junior outfit. Besides the union's rich heritage, the other thing it is sadly renowned for is establishing talented players only for them to be lured away by the bright lights and the big bucks. The fact that very few of those Boks listed in the dressing room lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup as a Cheetah player is testament to that. All Duncan's best efforts in setting up a proper structure and Toyota's ongoing support will not fully address this problem. The Cheetahs need proper international exposure to prosper and it will be great news if the word on the street is true that they can soon be included in a new European competition. That is the least SA Rugby can do for them in return for their rich contribution over 130 years.
