In the Toyota Cheetahs’ last SA Cup match of the season, the team will face their neighbours, the Suzuki Griquas, on Friday at Shimla Park on the campus of the University of the Free State. The game will be live on SuperSport Rugby.
Due to the re-sowing process and the field in Toyota Stadium not being ready for play, the match has been relocated to Shimla Park.
The gates open at 12pm, with the Free State Under-13 side taking on their counterparts from the Griquas. At 3pm the Toyota Cheetah Under-21 side plays against the Leopards U21s. Tickets are R20 and available at three entrances at Shimla Park. Season tickets and suite tickets will be valid at Shimla Park.
The access points for supporters entering Shimla Park will be as follows: Main Gate (Gate 1) on Nelson Mandela Drive. Medical Gate (Gate 3) on DF Malherbe Drive & Wynand Mouton Street intersection. Furstenberg Gate (Gate 4) opposite Tempe Military Base. The exciting points after the game will be as follows: All entrances above and an emergency exit at Koos Van Der Walt (on the western side of the University).
Alulutho Tshakweni will run onto the field in his 50th and last match for the Toyota Cheetahs.
Together with him, three other teammates, Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Tapiwa Mafura (Lions) and Sibabala Qoma (Lions), will be saying goodbye to the orange jersey on Friday.
A true legend of South African rugby, Ruan Pienaar, will hang up his boots on Friday evening. He will be leading the team in his 85th match for the Toyota Cheetahs.
“It’s a sad day. I think South Africa has had great rugby players over the years, and I think as far as Ruan is concerned, the credit he deserves has not always come his way,” said the Toyota Cheetahs’ Director of Rugby, Frans Steyn.
“My rugby career has gone full circle and finishing where it all began in Bloemfontein and in front of family and friends is special," said Pienaar.
“To come back at the age of 35 and be part of two Currie Cup titles was special. I’m still a huge fan of the Currie Cup series and hope it can continue for another 100 years. It’s a competition with so much history. So many big names in South African rugby have been privileged to lift the cup and play in the series. For me, it still holds a special place on the local rugby calendar.”
Pienaar took the first steps in his coaching career when he officially joined the Free State U21 team and Toyota Academy coaching staff as the new backline and attack coach in the beginning of May.
Free State Rugby proudly celebrates this exceptional player, anticipating even more significant achievements as he transitions into a coaching role.
Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Litha Nkula; 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar (capt); 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe; 5 Oupa Mohoje, 4 Pierre Uys; 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Will Hickey, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Marco Janse van Vuren, 23 Rewan Kruger.
Referee: AJ Jacobs.
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