New Money-Making Tournament Comes to Bloem as Cheetahs Announce Toyota Challenge

Toyota Cheetahs Team Caucus. (Photo by Frikkie Kapp / Gallo Images)

• The Cheetahs are currently without a tournament but will soon host two local teams as well as a Spanish and Romanian side at Toyota Stadium in November.
• The Sharks and Stormers will participate, as well as the Spanish Diables Barcelona and the Romanians CSM Stiinta Baia Mare.
• Each of the matches will provide a cash prize of Rand 250,000 to the winning team.

The Cheetahs will once again play competitive rugby with the announcement on Friday of an innovative new 4-game profit-making Toyota Challenge in which Rand 1 million will be up for grabs.

The Cheetahs are tournament-free (following the conclusion of the Currie Cup and their exclusion from the trip of South African teams to the north) but will soon welcome two local teams as well as a team from Spain and Romania at the Toyota stadium in Bloemfontein in November.

Locally, the Sharks and Stormers will participate, as well as the Spanish Diables Barcelona and the Romanians CSM Stiinta Baia Mare from November 13 to 26.

Each of the matches will offer a cash prize of Rand 250,000 to the winning team, but on top of that, more money is up for grabs for individual players and fans during the Toyota Challenge.

Players will be rewarded for their “positive playing actions” during matches, while fans will be rewarded for supporting their favorite teams in the stadium and online on various social media platforms.

READ | Four new players join Cheetahs while 12 more extend contracts

Cheetahs general manager Harold Verster said the new tournament was a win-win for players and spectators.

“In addition to preparing for rugby against former enemies of the Stormers and Sharks, the Toyota Cheetahs are delighted to have two new rugby friends, Diables Barcelona and CSM Stiinta Baia Mare at the Toyota Stadium,” he said.

“This new rugby product promises to be very engaging and entertaining for the fans. Speaking of fans, we are delighted that our supporters are once again allowed into the stadium, albeit limited to 2,000 at this point.”

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said he was delighted to see the Spanish and Romanian teams in action.

“It’s very exciting for all the teams involved and I’m sure we’ll see open rugby in Bloemfontein next month. It’s also great to see new teams in action, from Spain and Romania, two nations where the game is really growing, and their involvement will add something more to the Toyota Challenge. ”