If two-time Rugby World Cup-winner Frans Steyn gets his way, the Cheetahs will be back in Super Rugby by 2026.
Steyn, the director of rugby at the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, revealed he’s been involved in talks to get the team playing in franchise rugby once again.
The Cheetahs have left out in the cold since South African teams left Super Rugby to align themselves with Europe to play in the United Rugby Championship, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
And chatting to journalists, Steyn conversations are happening, but were being hampered by
Politics getting in the way of Cheetahs’ ambitions
“I am pushing hard for us to go South,” Steyn was quoted by Planet Rugby.
“But politics is a massive thing in rugby and I am starting to learn it as I go. It is flippen tough, said Steyn, who added the 2025 Super Rugby was not possible for his team to join.
“I am lucky we are not in because we told people that we would pay for our own flights and other stuff. So I am relieved that we are not in 25 otherwise I would have had to find money. I’d have to start robbing banks or something.
“But there is a chat going on. I just hope that the politics in rugby doesn’t block us. We will do our own thing, we will find our own way. We will find people that want to support us. But we must just not be blocked.
“I think if we go South it will be good for South Africa and the Currie Cup. If two or three teams go South we could have a North v South Currie Cup competition. But I am working on it, there is a lot of politics involved. So we will have to wait and see.”
Super Rugby having problems of their own
Meanwhile, Super Rugby has been going through a tough time over the last couple of years.
Talks of getting the Cheetahs involved again began when the Melbourne Rebels were kicked out of the competition.
In recent years, the quality of Super Rugby has also been blamed for the All Blacks and Wallabies’ struggles.
IOL Sport