Cheetahs keen to start European adventure with a bang

The Toyota Cheetahs are in England for the opening round of the 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup, where they will face the Exeter Chiefs in the last match of the weekend on Sunday. The action at Sandy Park in Exeter kicks off at 7.30pm (SAST) and will be the Cheetahs' first against an English club in the EPCR Challenge Cup. The game will be live on SuperSport.

Last season, the Toyota Cheetahs boasted the best line-out success rate in the competition at 93.2% and will look to this facet again as an attacking weapon. However, their defence will have to be spot on against Exeter, who converted 59% of their line breaks into tries, placing them first in the Investec Champions Cup last season. The Chiefs will be looking to carry over the momentum from their impressive Gallagher PREM form.

After reaching the play-offs in the first two seasons, the team from the Free State missed out last year and will be keen to turn that around.

Coach Frans Steyn is backing his team. "To be realistic, we are in a tough pool and will face strong opponents. We are confident. We have a good plan. The players are healthy and we've got a good squad. This is an opportunity to show the quality of our players.

"A rugby ball can bounce to any side and hopefully it will bounce our way this season."

Captain Chucky van der Westhuizen is excited to face a former Cheetah player, Joseph Dweba. "He is a quality player and Springbok and for me it is always nice to measure yourself against some of the best players in the world. It is exciting for the boys to play in the EPCR Challenge Cup, to be on tour and to play against a quality side that is second in the Premiership at the moment."

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde; 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren; 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Juan Venter, 6 Pierre Uys; 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner; 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (capt), 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Tielman Nieuwoudt, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Daniel Maarten, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Cohen Jasper.

EPCR Challenge Cup

Exeter Chiefs v Toyota Cheetahs - Sunday @ Sandy Park, Exeter (7.30pm)

Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)

TV: SuperSport