The Toyota Cheetahs are extra motivated heading into their Currie Cup title defence which will get underway in July.

This comes on the back of the news on Tuesday that for at least the next two seasons the Cheetahs will continue to play in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

While the Cheetahs will continue to play their home games in Amsterdam, they have security for two more years regarding playing in an international competition.

The first prize for the Cheetahs is to final a more permanent home in an international competition, but as these are the cards the Free State has been dealt, this is something that still excites the team.

The Cheetahs captain, Victor Sekekete, who is back following an extended loan spell at the Ospreys, told OFM Sport that the welcome news will drive his team more.

“Finding out the news that will be in it for another two seasons is actually amazing,” said the man who led the Cheetahs to a seventh Currie Cup title.

“We've worked so hard during our EPCR Challenge Cup and we made sure that we make a statement.

“But I think going into it now and knowing that we’ll be playing in it for two years, it gives the guys a lot of motivation.

“As well as going into the Currie Cup, having to defend it now, the boys have a lot to play for.”

The CEO of the Cheetahs, Ross van Reenen, in turn told OFM Sport that he is just delighted for the players, that they have something to look forward to.

“We are incredibly happy about the developments and I've been pushing very hard this year that the window gets extended to two years.

“It's very difficult, you know, to contract players just for a year. And because our only real international competition is the EPCR. It's going to give, I think, a lot of comfort to our current players that they can play in the EPCR for the next two years.

“Also, for contracting new players, this will help us to keep the young players like those from Grey College in Bloemfontein. I'm extremely excited about it.

“I think the fact that they've shown such a lot of confidence in our franchise and as a team, shows that they really like the Cheetahs.”

The Cheetahs will kick-off their Currie Cup campaign on 6 July against the Griffons in Bloemfontein.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport