Cheetahs eye migration south in hunt for competitive rugby

Leighton Koopman

THE Cheetahs are working hard behind the scenes to make a move down south for more competitive rugby at a higher level.

After their Currie Cup semi-final loss to the Lions in Johannesburg yesterday, director of rugby Frans Steyn confirmed they are working on a plan to get tougher competition and a foot in the southern hemisphere’s franchise competition again.

The Cheetahs were booted from Super Rugby years ago to accommodate the so-called big four franchises of South African rugby. After finding a home in the Pro14 of the northern hemisphere, they were also dumped from that competition, with South Africa’s exit from Super Rugby and the four franchises moving to the United Rugby Championship at the cost of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings.

Since then, the Free State outfit has scrambled for international competition and apart from being included in the EPCR’s Challenge Cup as an invitation side, they had to make do with the Currie Cup and their own Toyota Challenge for competitive rugby.

But Steyn confirmed they are working on a move south, which he hopes will not be stifled by rugby politics.

“I am pushing hard to go south,” Steyn said at the post-match press conference.

“Politics is a massive thing in rugby and I am starting to learn it as I go. It’s flippen tough. We are out of 2025, I am actually lucky we are not going (in 2025) because I told people we will pay for our own flights and their flights, so I am relieved we are not in, otherwise I would’ve had to find money and probably start robbing banks,” he laughed.

“But there is a chat going on. I just hope the politics in rugby must not block us. We will do our own thing, we will find people who want to support us. But we must just not be blocked.

“I think if we go south, it will be good for South Africa and the Currie Cup. If two or three teams go south then we will have a North v South Currie Cup competition. I am working on it, but there is a lot of politics and stuff going on, so we will have to wait and see.”