It’s Currie Cup time in Bloem, and the Toyota Cheetahs are back on home soil for their first Carling Currie Cup home fixture of the 2025 campaign. This Friday, 1 August, the men in orange take on the defending champs, the Airlink Pumas, in what promises to be a humdinger at Toyota Stadium. Kick-off is set for 19:00—but trust us, the action starts long before that.
With school rugby, food stalls, music, and a proper Bloem vibe, Friday is more than just a rugby match—it’s a full-on rugby day out. Gates swing open at 11:30, with primary schools battling it out in a Sevens rugby fest on the main field from 12:00 to 18:00. And for the grown-ups? The Castle Deck bar lunch kicks off at noon, serving up mouth-watering local fare with live entertainment from Hugo Pieterse to get the gees going. After the final whistle, local DJ LeGoody will keep the vibe alive for a proper post-match jol.
Orange Friday Vibes and Family Specials
Tickets? You’ll hardly break the bank. R60 for main stand, R40 for open stand, and just R30 for students and kids. Whether you grab them online via Ticketpro or swing by the stadium ticket office, it’s a bargain for big match rugby.
And don’t forget: Fridays are Orange Fridays. Wear your orange kit, snap a pic at the stadium, tag it with #OrangeFriday, and your company could win big!
A 50-Cap Milestone and a Few Fresh Faces
In team news, the Cheetahs have shuffled the deck slightly following last weekend’s narrow loss to Boland. Most notably, Cameron Dawson will run out for his 50th match in the famous orange jersey, anchoring the scrum at loosehead.
Vernon Paulo gets the start at hooker, with Pierre Raymond Uys stepping in for the injured Pieter Janse van Vuren at lock. Another exciting change sees Sasko Ndlovu making his Currie Cup debut at flank.
The backline also gets a reshuffle. Smiley Nel earns a starting nod at scrumhalf, swapping roles with Rewan Kruger, and Tiaan Swanepoel slots in at flyhalf. Carel-Jan Coetzee returns at inside centre, while James Verity-Amm takes over at fullback, shifting Cohen Jasper to the wing.
Among the impact players, seasoned props Hencus van Wyk and Aranos Coetzee join the bench, along with utility back Franco Smith, while Clayton Blommetjies adds some serious firepower in the No. 23 jersey.
Here’s the Full Match-Day Squad:
Starting XV:
- Cameron Dawson (50th cap)
- Vernon Paulo
- Frankie Dos Reis
- Pierre Raymond Uys
- Victor Sekekete (C)
- Sasko Ndlovu
- Gideon van der Merwe
- Neels Volschenk
- Jandre Nel
- Tiaan Swanepoel
- Cohen Jasper
- Carel-Jan Coetzee
- Marko Jansen van Vuren
- Banie Britz
- James Verity-Amm
Bench:
16. Louis van der Westhuizen
17. Hencus van Wyk
18. Aranos Coetzee
19. Sisonke Vumazonke
20. Daniel Maartens
21. Rewan Kruger
22. Franco Smith
23. Clayton Blommetjies
Referee duties will be handled by Hanru van Rooyen, with AJ Jacobs and Daniel Canhenga assisting, and Cwengile Jadezweni overseeing as TMO.
Injury Update
Unfortunately, the Cheetahs are still without a few key names:
Munier Hartzenberg, Carl Wegner, Johan Kelly Okonkwo, George Lourens, Dux Manyama, Prince Nkabinde, Michael Annies, Tielman Niewoudt, and Pieter Janse van Vuren all remain sidelined.
