Frans Steyn makes sensational claim on Cheetahs’ future plans
Cheetahs director of rugby Frans Steyn.
Cheetahs director of rugby Frans Steyn has revealed that he is hopeful that the Bloemfontein-based outfit can make a move to a southern hemisphere competition like Super Rugby.
Steyn made the sensational claim while speaking to reporters after the Cheetahs’ 43-34 defeat against the Lions in an entertaining Currie Cup semi-final at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
This comes after the former Springboks utility back reacted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to comments from ex-All Blacks and Crusaders full-back Israel Dagg in June when he (Dagg) questioned why New Zealand and Australia broke ties with South Africa when it came to Super Rugby.
At the time Steyn tweeted a response which said: “There are other teams in SA that want the opportunity!!”
Wary of rugby politics
On Saturday, that topic was raised again and when he was asked whether playing at Super Rugby level is a realistic option for the Cheetahs, Steyn said he is hopeful of achieving that goal but admitted that rugby politics could prove a difficult obstacle to overcome.
Frans Steyn’s frank take on former Springboks team-mate’s suspension
“I am pushing hard for us to go South,” he said. “But politics is a massive thing in rugby and I am starting to learn it as I go. It is flippen tough. So we are out of ’25 (not able to play in the 2025 Super Rugby competition).
“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,” Steyn said jokingly.
“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.
‘We will have to wait and see’
“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.”
South Africa’s four leading franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – are competing in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and have also been allowed to qualify for the European Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, the Cheetahs are not currently involved in the URC, but are competing in Europe’s second-tier Challenge Cup competition.