Rugby
Continuity key for Cheetahs as four earn debuts─── MORGAN PIEK 16:22 Thu, 24 Jul 2025
The Toyota Cheetahs captain, Victor Sekekete, is locked and loaded to lead his team into the Currie Cup, which kicks off this weekend. The Bloemfontein outfit will travel to Wellington in the opening round to take on the Boland Cavaliers.
It’s set to be a tricky start for the Free Staters, with their opponents now coached by Hawies Fourie, who will no doubt be targeting this fixture.
Sekekete famously lifted the iconic Sir Donald Currie Cup in 2023 when he captained the Cheetahs to their seventh title. At the time, Fourie was still at the helm of the Cheetahs, and that triumph fulfilled a boyhood dream for the coach.
Victor Sekekete. Photo: Morgan Piek
Last year, the Cheetahs reached the semi-finals but fell short against the Lions at Ellis Park. This time around, they’re determined to go all the way.
While the Cheetahs benefit from continuity in their lineup, four players are set to make their Currie Cup debuts, and the coaching staff will also be making their first appearance together as a technical team in the competition.
The team named for the opener is exactly the same as the one that recently beat Georgia 24-20 in the historic 130th anniversary match in Bloemfontein.
In the backline, wingers Ntokozo Makhaza and Banie Britz will make their Currie Cup debuts. Among the forwards, tighthead props Frankie Dos Reis and Ben Pitout will feature in the competition for the first time.
Dos Reis will start in the number three jersey, while the 20-year-old Pitout has been named on the bench.
Sekekete told OFM Sport that the squad is in a good space and he’s particularly excited about the new faces. “There’s a lot of competition, especially with the number of young, talented guys coming through,” said Sekekete.
Hawies Fourie after winning the 2023 Currie Cup final. Photo: Morgan Piek
“The young players are stepping up, and it’s good for South African rugby. I believe this will be a tough and competitive Currie Cup. When you play, you need to score points; otherwise, you’re going to end up playing catch-up rugby.”
The kick-off between the Boland Cavaliers and Toyota Cheetahs is on Sunday at 15:00 in Wellington.
Boland - TBA
Cheetahs - 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 Marko Jansen van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Marco Janse van Rensburg, 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements - 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jandré Nel, 22 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 Clayton Blommetjies
