Free State Rugby was honoured to cap 16 players at a ceremony, that was long overdue, held in Toyota Stadium, together with the launch of the Toyota Challenge on Tuesday evening.    

To qualify for official colors, a player has to play in six consecutive or in a total of 10 matches for the Toyota Cheetah team in either SuperRugby, PRO14, Vodacom SuperRugby Unlocked, the Preparation Series or Currie Cup.   

The 12 players who were capped are Wilmar Arnoldi (19), Craig Barry (23), Reinhardt Fortuin (20), Howard Mnisi (10), Andisa Ntsila (18), Jeandre Rudolph (14), Duncan Saal (10), Victor Sekekete (15), Chris Smit (19), Marnus van der Merwe (30), Conraad (Beertjie) van Vuuren (14) and Rosko Specman (23).

Aidon Davis (51) and Oupa Mohoje (73) received their 50^th cap.

It is not every day that a team is so fortunate to cap a player for 100 matches and the Toyota Cheetahs are honoured to have three players who earned 100 caps for the team.  Clayton Blommetjies (129) and Tian Meyer (114) received a navy cap with gold.  

Ruan Pienaar (34), Frans Steyn (13), Louis (Chucky) van der Westhuizen (13), Junior Pokomela (73 – 50 cap) and Aranos Coetzee (101-100 cap) were not able to attend the function due to other rugby obligations and will be capped a later stage.  

Players who qualified for caps but are no longer with the Toyota Cheetahs are Ruben de Haas (10), Erich De Jager (27), Sias Koen (6), Daniel Maartens (19), Chris Massyn (12), Khutha Mchunu (10), Rhyno Smith (25), Boan Venter (26).  50 caps:  Luan De Bruin (58), Joseph Dweba (56), Gerhard Olivier (53), Charles Marais (96).  

Free State Rugby is extremely proud of these players.  

An honorary cap was given to the chairman of the board, Ryno Opperman, for his dedication, exceptional commitment in his role.  Ryno played in 137 games for the Cheetahs since he made his debut on 19 March 1993 till his last match on 17 April 1999.

Players who played the most matches for the Free State or Cheetahs since 1895 are:

245 – Helgard Müller (SA record)

221 – Chris Badenhorst

186 – Hendro Scholtz, 169 – Wian du Preez, 167 – Francois Uys, 165 – Gysie Pienaar, 162 – Martiens le Roux, 161 – Hennie Daniller, 160 – Gerrie Sonnekus, 155 – Braam Els, 154 – Dougie Heymans, 153 – Adriaan Strauss, 152 – André Cloete, 152 – Kabamba Floors.

147 – Eddie Fredericks, 145 – Japie Wessels, 141 – De Wet Ras, 141 – Jaco Coetzee, 141 – Heinrich Brüssow, 137 – Ryno Opperman, 131 – Tewis de Bruyn, 131 – Robert Ebersohn, 129 – Coenie Oosthuizen, 129 – Clayton Blommetjies, 128 – Naka Drotské, 125 – Joe Beukes, 125 – Eben Jansen, 122 – Os du Randt, 122 – Brendan Venter, 121 – Sakkie van Zyl, 120 – Meyer Bosman, 119 – Johan Erasmus, 119 – Raymond Rhule, 117 – MJ Smith, 117 – Shaun Venter, 116 – Barry Wolmarans, 115 – André Venter, 114 – Tian Meyer, 111 – Ryno Benjamin, 109 – Rudi Visagie, 108 – Barend Pieterse,

103 – Richardt Strauss, 102 – Izak van der Westhuizen, 100 – Chris Kruger

*Number of caps to date given in brackets.