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Free State Cheetahs
Image:Free State Cheetahs.jpg
Full name	Free State Cheetahs
Emblem	Cheetah
Colours	Orange & white
Founded	1895
Sport	Rugby union
League	Currie Cup
Ground	Vodacom Park
Official website	fscheetahs.co.za

The Free State Cheetahs (formerly the Orange Free State), for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs are the current Currie Cup co-champions, drawing with the Blue Bulls in the 2006 final.

Contents 1 History 2 Finals results 2.1 Currie Cup 2.2 Notes 3 Current squad 4 Springboks 5 External links

[edit] History

The Orange Free State was established in 1895. The Orange Free State made their first Currie Cup final appearance in the early 1970s, losing to Northern Transvaal 30 points to 22 at Loftus Versfeld. Just two seasons later, the Orange Free State met Northern Transvaal again in the Currie Cup final, losing 12 points to six at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The following season, Orange Free State met the Western Province in the final, defeating them 33 points to 16 in Bloemfontein, claiming their first Currie Cup championship. The next season, Orange Free State met Northern Transvaal in the Currie Cup final again, though Northern Transvaal defeated them 27 points to 12 in Pretoria. For the fourth successive time, Orange Free State were in the final again, and again with Northern Transvaal, who defeated them 13 points to nine.

They met Northern Transvaal in their one final appearance of the 1980s, going down 23 points to 16 in the 1981 season. The Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs made two final appearances in the 1990s, losing to Transvaal and the Western Province in 1994 and 1997 respectively. In 2004, they went down to the Blue Bulls in the final, however, the following season, the Free State defeated them in the final, 29 points to 25. The Free State finished at the top of the table of the 2006 season, and defeated the Sharks in their home semi to advance to their third final in as many years. The Cheetahs hosted the final, which ended in a 28-all draw after 20 minutes of extra-time.

[edit] Finals results

[edit] Currie Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runner-up	Venue
1973	Northern Transvaal	30 - 22	Orange Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1975	Northern Transvaal	12 - 6	Orange Free State	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1976	Orange Free State	33 - 16	Western Province	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1977	Northern Transvaal	27 - 12	Orange Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1978	Northern Transvaal	13 - 9	Orange Free State	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1981	Northern Transvaal	23 - 6	Orange Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1994	Transvaal1	56 - 35	Orange Free State	Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1997	Western Province	14 - 12	Free State Cheetahs2	Newlands, Cape Town
2004	Blue Bulls3	42 - 33	Free State Cheetahs	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005	Free State Cheetahs	29 - 25	Blue Bulls	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006	Free State Cheetahs	28 - 284	Blue Bulls	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

[edit] Notes

[edit] Current squad

Jandré Blom Meyer Bosman Heinrich Brussouw Phillip Burger Cobus Calldo Jacques Claassens Michael Claassens Quinton Davids Rory Duncan Kabamba Floors

Bevin Fortuin Eddie Fredericks Barry Goodes Dale Heidtmann Dougie Hellmuth Freddie Hicks Sydney Human JW Jonker Chris Kruger CJ van der Linde

Flip van der Merwe Ryno van der Merwe Darron Nell Falie Oelschig Gavin Passens Giscard Pieters Barend Pieterse Jannie du Plessis Wian du Preez Herman Pretorius

Os du Randt Ollie le Roux Hendro Scholtz Juan Smith Nicky Steyn Richardt Strauss Gaffie du Toit Jaco du Toit Hannes Tredoux Bian Vermaak

Rich Verster Willem de Waal Sinethemba Zweni Corniel van Zyl

[edit] Springboks

Name Year Boetie McHardy 1912 Hennie Potgieter 1928 Tiny Francis 1931/32 Jack Gage 1933 Lappies Hattingh 1933 Flip Geel 1949 Piet Wessels 1951/52 Basie Vivier 1956 Harry Walker 1953 Popeye Strydom 1955 Chris de Wilzem 1956 Bennie van Niekerk Gert Cilliers 1963 Nelie Smith 1963 John Wessels 1965 Piet Goosen 1965 Sakkie van Zyl 1965 Louis Slabber 1965

Piet Greyling 1967 Joggie Jansen 1970 Jackie Snyman 1974 Gerrie Germishuys 1974 Leon Vogel 1974 Jan Schlebusch 1974 Johan de Bruyn 1974 Gerrie Sonnekus 1974 Kleintjie Grobler 1974 Rampie Stander 1974 André Bestbier 1974 Edrich Krantz 1976 De Wet Ras 1976 Theuns Stofberg 1976 Hermanus Potgieter 1977 Dirk Froneman 1977 Barry Wolmarans 1977 Martiens le Roux 1980 Gysie Pienaar 1980

Eben Jansen 1981 Rudie Visagie 1984 Jaco Reinach 1986 Christo Ferreira 1986 Helgard Muller 1986 André Joubert 1989 Johan Styger 1992 Ruben Kruger 1993 Hentie Martens 1993 Naka Drotské 1993 Ollie le Roux 1994 Brendan Venter 1994 Chris Badenhorst 1994 Os du Randt 1994 André Venter 1996 Werner Swanepoel 1997 Rassie Erasmus 1997 Jannie de Beer 1997 Braam Els 1997

Willie Meyer 1997 Hendro Scholtz 2002 Freidrich Lombard 2002 CJ van der Linde 2002 Juan Smith 2003 Gerrie Britz 2004 Hanyani Shimange 2004 Michael Claassens 2004 Gurthro Steenkamp 2004 Meyer Bosman 2005 Bevin Fortuin 2006 Kabamba Floors 2006

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Cheetahs on SARugby.co.za
• Cheetahs on Suparugby.co.za

Vrystaat Cheetahs)

fr:Free State Cheetahs