Toyota Cheetahs Carl Wegner

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 18: Carl August Wegner of the Free State Cheethas during the Carling Currie Cup match between Phakisa Pumas and Toyota Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on December 18, 2020 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

Cheetahs to take on Invitational side in a friendly fixture

The Toyota Cheetahs rugby side has announced that they will be taking on a Toyota Invitational side at the Toyota Stadium at 16h00 this Saturday.

Toyota Cheetahs Carl Wegner

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 18: Carl August Wegner of the Free State Cheethas during the Carling Currie Cup match between Phakisa Pumas and Toyota Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on December 18, 2020 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

The Cheetahs have announced that they will be taking on an Invitational side at the Toyota Stadium at 16:00 this Saturday.

As the four Rainbow Cup unions enjoy a well-deserved bye weekend, some of the players who haven’t not been as involved as they would’ve liked will now get their opportunity to get some much-deserved game time under their belts.

The Cheetahs, who themselves have been starved of competitive rugby, stated on their website that, they will be able to take on a team consisting of these players, courtesy of SARU.

Cheetahs Managing director speaks on the fixture

Managing director of the Cheetahs Herold Verster believes that this once of fixture has its benefits for not only all of those involved but South African rugby general.

“We also believe it is of national interest that the Toyota Cheetahs players and the Toyota Invitational side get this opportunity to show their skills to the national selectors before the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa,” he said.

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The Invitational side which will be kept under the watchful eyes of coaches Ricardo Laubscher, former Springbok assistant coach and Springbok scrum coach Daan Human, had already gathered in the City of Roses on Wednesday. The coaches are then expected to name their matchday squad for the weekend’s game on Thursday.

Both the Cheetahs and Invitational side to pay tribute to schools

Just last week, SARU made the announcement that schoolboy rugby would have to come to a halt, having received a few Covid-19 scares in Johannesburg, a devastating announcement that would not have gone down well with the majority of them, especially those who might have already missed out on the previous year.

The honour the schools affected by the situation, it has been announced that both sides will take to the field wearing the socks of their respective high schools.

“With this gesture, we would like to thank all the schools and school coaches that tirelessly produce top quality rugby players for the South African rugby landscape on an annual basis,” said Verster in conclusion.