The Toyota Cheetahs have been drawn in Pool 1 for the 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup which will get underway in December.

The Cheetahs will be based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands again for their home games in the competition and none will be played in Bloemfontein.

While the fixtures are yet to be released, the Cheetahs will test themselves against Connacht of Ireland, as well as Cardiff Rugby of Wales, Zebre of Italy and the two French clubs, Lyon and Perpignan.

The Cheetahs have previous experience on playing against Connacht, Cardiff and Zebre from their days in the then PRO14. Zebre is a team they have face in the EPCR Challenge Cup, and during their first season in the competition the Cheetahs were based in Parma.

It will however be a first time that the Cheetahs gets to face the two French teams, Lyon, and Perpignan. In previous season the teams from France which they faced were Section Paloise (Pau) and Oyonnax.

The Cheetahs assistant coach, Charl Strydom, told OFM Sport that is exciting to face teams such as Connacht.

“Luckily we've played against those sides, especially in Galway we've had a couple of really close games against Connacht,” said Strydom.

“The French teams will always be the French teams - they're big and they spend well.

“It doesn't really matter where we will be playing, but we're looking forward to going back to Amsterdam. We hard really good support there, and I think the people enjoyed it when we played over there.

“It should be interesting.”

The first round of games will be played on the weekend of 6 to 8 December.

EPCR Challenge Cup pools:

Pool 1 - Cardiff Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Cheetahs, USAP, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Zebre Parma

Pool 2 - Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Section Paloise, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Lions, Ospreys

Pool 3 - RC Vannes, Black Lion, Aviron Bayonnais, Scarlets, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

Morgan Piek OFM Sport