The Cheetahs will be returning to France in April for the round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Cheetahs have been drawn to play against the French Top14 club, Clermont, in the knockout rounds.

It’s a second season in a row the Cheetahs will face a Top14 team in the playoffs, after losing 36-21 to Toulon last year.

On the weekend, the Cheetahs suffered a heartbreaking 28-27 defeat to Oyonnax in France, and this after they were one player and at times more than one player short for most of the game.

A win would have secured the Cheetahs a more favourable draw for the playoffs, but this game would have still had to played overseas.

The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport they are delighted to advance to the knockouts and his team will take some time off now.

“There are certain things that we can improve on, but as a coach you can only be proud of character shown, and the also the improvement since the previous week,” said Fourie.

“We will come back after a bit of a break; rest well and then make sure that we are well prepared for the round of 16 in April.”

The Cheetahs biggest work-on going forward will be their discipline which has proved to be their Achilles Heel for quite some time.

The Cheetahs will also start turning their attention to the SA Cup which kicks off later in the year.

The round of 16 in the Challenge Cup will be contested on the weekend of 5 to 7 April.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport