Central Cheetahs

The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State Cheetahs, Northern Free State Griffons and Griquas. They play home games at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein and GWK Park in Kimberley. The current Cheetahs captain is Juan Smith.

The Cheetahs was one of the two new franchises that entered the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006, the other being Australia's Western Force. The Central Union was awarded the fifth South African franchise over the SEC franchise in April 2005. In its first season the Cheetahs did surprisingly well, finishing tenth in the final standings, out of 14 sides. Prior to being accepted into the 2006 Super 14 season, the Cheetahs areas were represented as a part of the Cats franchise. In addition, before South Africa entered franchises into the Super 14, the Free State Currie Cup side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season.

Strip

The primary strip for the Central Cheetahs is a white jersey with an orange collar, and orange strips down the side of the body of the jersey. The shoulders have turquoise and purple strips. The colours are representative of the three central union Currie Cup sides; orange and white (Free State Cheetahs), turquoise (Griquas) and purple (Northern...
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