OPINION: Is Cheetahs’ participation in the Challenge Cup sustainable?

The Cheetahs have once again proved that they deserve to be eating at the top table of franchise rugby, after they reached the last 16 round of the Challenge Cup this past weekend.

After being unceremoniously dumped out of the Pro14 (now United Rugby Championship) by the South African Rugby Union in 2020, the Cheetahs have been drifting along, only competing in the Currie Cup competition while hoping to return to international club rugby.

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That opportunity was finally handed to them last year when it was confirmed that they had been invited to compete in the Challenge Cup competition as an invitational team.

Despite the odds being stacked against them, due to them not playing regularly, having to play their home games in Italy as part of the agreement to be in the tournament and not having the kind of star power in their side afforded to most teams that play international club rugby, they prevailed.

In their four pool games the Cheetahs beat Pau in France 21-16, lost to Scarlets in Italy 45-26, lost to Scarlets in Wales 20-17 and beat Pau in Italy 9-6.

This was also while missing their two star veterans Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar through injury during most of the games.

Successful campaign

A couple of weeks ago Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie explained that reaching the competition knockouts would constitute a successful showing in the Challenge Cup for him.

“If we get into the top 16 I would say it has been a successful campaign for us. The most important thing for me as the coach of the team was to prove that we are worthy of playing in this competition,” Fourie said at the time.

While they will be overjoyed at reaching the knockout rounds it is most likely as far as they will go as they will be huge underdogs when they face French giants Toulon in France in their last 16 match.

Although they have now proved that they belong, playing in the Challenge Cup will not be sustainable unless the Cheetahs get into an international club rugby competition.

They will lose star veterans, Steyn and Pienaar in the next year or two, with both at the end of successful careers, while they will continue struggling to keep hold of their best players as long as they only have the Currie Cup and Challenge Cup to look forward to.

It is thus vitally important for SA Rugby to finally step up to the plate and help the Cheetahs find a new home, considering it was them who put them into this untenable situation.