Photo Credit: Gallo Images
Free State Cheetahs (Pty)Ltd managing directors Harold Verster issued a statement reassuring their loyal supporters and the rest of South Africa that despite their omission for the Pro16 and subsequent loss of top players, they are hard at work to remain a force in SA Rugby.
"Free State Rugby went through a challenging year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the decision to omit the Toyota Cheetahs from the expanded PRO16 competition: a decision which resulted in many top players not renewing their contracts.
While it is a pity that we are going to lose stalwarts like Reniel Hugo, Rhyno Smith and Carl Wegner, we are thankful that the Toyota Cheetahs will retain most of its players. Fortunately, Carl and Rhyno will also still be part of the Cheetahs group until the end of the Franchise Cup. Free State Rugby is working hard to fill the gaps left by these players and to strengthen the depth with the contracting of new players.
The era ahead of us holds exciting new opportunities for growth. Although matches will still be played in empty stadiums in the foreseeable future, statistics show that the Toyota Cheetahs have achieved impressive growth in terms of commercial exposure. We are confident that the Toyota Cheetahs will remain a force in South African rugby.
Harold Verster
Managing Director: Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd"