The Toyota Cheetahs want to use the opportunity on Sunday to prove that they belong in an international rugby competition.

The Cheetahs are playing against the Sharks in Bloemfontein in the EPCR Challenge Cup, but the Currie Cup champions participation is purely on invite only.

The Cheetahs have been in the international wilderness since 2020 when they were controversially booted out of the then PRO14, to make way for the four bigger South African franchises.

The Cheetahs captain, Victor Sekekete, said they are in a good space, but they want to compete permanently on an international stage.

“I think for us, we are hungrier for something bigger,” said the captain who led the Cheetahs to a seventh Currie Cup title.

“We've tasted the Currie Cup, but everyone is looking forward to something big for the Cheetahs.

“For us, we are looking to go overseas and hopefully something happens for us to have a good season, but so far, so good. We are where we want to be and hopefully, we can keep up the momentum.”

It will certainly be an uphill task for the Cheetahs to beat the Sharks, but they proved earlier in the year that they are well-capable of beating a loaded team.

The Sharks do have the big advantage of getting international exposure, week-in, week-out in the United Rugby Champions, and this is something that the Cheetahs do unfortunately lack.

That said, earlier in the year they proved that they can push well above their weight by reaching the round of 16 in the Challenge Cup, only to lose to the eventual champions, Toulon.

In that game if the bounce of the ball favoured the Free Staters the result could have been different.

Sunday’s eagerly anticipated Challenge Cup derby at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport