16 October 2026
Toyota Cheetahs Director of Rugby Frans Steyn has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of their EPCR Challenge Cup opener, declaring there are absolutely no excuses for failure. The Free State outfit launches their European campaign this Sunday at 14:00 SAST against Top 14 heavyweights Aviron Bayonnais at the intimidating Stade Jean Dauger. Steyn has demanded a clinical performance as the team targets a guaranteed spot in the playoff stages.
The Bloemfontein franchise is not just looking to participate, but is hunting a knockout run. Steyn set the baseline expectation at surviving the pool stages, stating, “I would like us to get to the Round of 16, and hopefully, that will give us a good shot to go further than the Round of 16. All in all, we have to reach the play-off stages.” With a heavily reinforced touring squad, the management believes the pieces are finally in place to execute a winning formula on European soil.
The tactical blueprint focuses entirely on direct execution rather than worrying about hostile away crowds. Steyn insists that top-tier teams must deliver results regardless of the geographic coordinates, explaining, “I think this year we don’t have any excuses. We’ve got a great squad, so we need to perform.”
The squad will also adapt to a secondary home base at St Helen's in Swansea, Wales, later in the pool stages. Steyn added, “Wherever we play, that doesn’t really matter; we need to do our things and execute the plan on the day better than the other team. We’re looking forward to going to Wales later in the competition and making that our new home away from home.”
To counter the brutal upfront battle expected in France, the Cheetahs have drafted in abrasive loose forward Carl Els. The recent Currie Cup winner arrives from the Griquas with a reputation for a high work rate and heavy collisions to anchor the back row. Steyn is eager to see his new charge in action, noting, “We’re all excited to have him here. He had a great Currie Cup, and hopefully he finds his feet quickly within our squad and within our system and continues with his good form. We’ll definitely need that from him against Bayonne.”
