The Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd is delighted to announce that Schalk Ferreira (prop), Reinhardt Fortuin (flyhalf), Cohen Jasper (fullback) and Andell Loubser (utility back) have committed to extending their contract with the Toyota Cheetahs.

Schalk Ferreira

The prop, Schalk Ferreira, made his Toyota Cheetah debut on 27 February 2021 against the Stormers in the Cape Town Stadium. Since then, he has earned 32 caps for the Free State side.

He brought a lot of experience to the Toyota Cheetahs. At the age of 39 years, he is the oldest player in the Toyota Cheetah camp to ever play for the Toyota Cheetahs.

Schalk Ferreira is a product of Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and has previously represented Western Province, Stormers, Eastern Province, Southern Kings, and Toulouse in France.

Ferreira was born in Pretoria and later attended Stellenbosch-based Paul Roos Gymnasium. Ferreira represented Western Province at the Under-16 level in 2000 and played at the premier South African schools competition, the Under-18 Craven Week, on two occasions – in 2001 for a Coastal Western Province combination side and in 2002 for Western Province. After the 2002 tournament, he played for the South African Schools team against their French and Welsh counterparts.

Ferreira was included in the South African Under-19 squad at the 2003 Under-19 Rugby World Championship in Paris. He helped South Africa win the tournament, beating New Zealand 22–18 in the final. Ferreira was included in the SA squad in the U-21 Rugby World Championship in Scotland in 2004.

Schalk played in 58 matches for Western Province after making his debut in 2005 in a Vodacom Cup match.

In 2007, Ferreira made his Super Rugby debut in Round Three of the competition, replacing Brok Harris in the second half of their match against the Chiefs in a 21–16 win in Cape Town. He appeared in 16 games in the competition.

Ferreira suffered a neck injury in a car crash during the off-season before the 2008 Super 14 season, which ruled him out of the start of the competition. Despite suggestions that Ferreira should retire following the injury, he returned to action for the final four rounds of the competition.

The coaching staff at Western Province tried converting Ferreira into a hooker. He suffered a further injury to the vertebrae in his neck. He announced his retirement from rugby at the end of the 2009 season.

After completely missing the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Ferreira reversed his decision to retire and rejoined Western Province before the 2012 season. He played in all ten matches in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition. He helped them win the competition for the first time in their history, beating Griquas 20–18 in a final that Ferreira started.

Ferreira joined the Port Elizabeth-based side, the Eastern Province Kings, on a two-month trial during the 2012 Currie Cup First Division, which later became a permanent deal. After making his debut for the EP Kings in a match against a South African Students team, he made ten appearances for the EP Kings. He missed the first leg of their promotion/relegation play-off series against the Free State Cheetahs. Still, He returned for the second leg, but the EP Kings lost both matches to remain in the First Division.

In 2013, Ferreira started in the historic first-ever match for the Southern Kings, helping them secure a 22–10 victory over the Western Force. He firmly established himself as their first-choice loosehead prop, starting in the Kings' first 15 matches in the competition.

After 59 matches for the EP and Kings, Ferreira joined the exodus of players that left the Kings after they lost their Super Rugby relegation play-off series. Ferreira moved to France to join the Top 14 side, Toulouse. He initially signed for the side as a medical joker. He was later rewarded with a three-year contract in which he played 35 matches.

Ferreira returned in 2014 to South Africa as a member of a World XV that played against South Africa in a one-off match during the 2014 mid-year rugby union internationals. He appeared as a second-half replacement as South Africa won 47–13 in Cape Town. Ferreira's 35th and final appearance for Toulouse came in their match against Brive in Round 24 of the competition in 2015.

Ferreira was released from his contract with Toulouse a year early and returned to Port Elizabeth, signing an agreement with the Eastern Province until the end of 2020. He played for the Southern Kings representing them in 2016-'20 in 77 matches before the Toyota Cheetahs contracted him in 2021.

REINHARDT FORTUIN

Reinhardt Fortuin made his Toyota Cheetah debut on 14 November 2020 as a replacement for the Springbok Frans Steyn in Round 6 of Super Rugby Unlocked against the Stormers in Cape Town. He has played 46 games to date for the Toyota Cheetahs.

As a schoolboy, Fortuin represented Boland at the age-group level. He then moved into the senior ranks after making his mark for Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup.

Reinhardt had the unique distinction of representing the University of Stellenbosch Maties in the Varsity Cup in rugby and cricket (2017).

Fortuin spent a part of his childhood in Kimberley but matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.

Reinhardt Fortuin caps summary since he joined the Toyota Cheetahs:

SR Unlocked 2020: 2 caps, Currie Cup 2020: 6 caps, Franchise Cup 2021: 4 caps, Currie Cup 2021: 8 caps, Currie Cup 2022: 10 caps, Toyota Challenge Cup 2022: 4 caps, EPCR 2022/23: 4 caps, Currie Cup 2023: 8 caps.

COHEN JASPER

Cohen Jasper has committed to another two seasons with the Toyota Cheetahs.

Cohen Jasper joined the Toyota Cheetahs after the 2021 Varsity Cup. He played his first Currie Cup match for the Free Staters on 26 June 2021, replacing Tian Meyer on the left wing.

Jasper is an exciting outside back from the Central University of Technology Ixias (CUT), who predominantly plays at fullback, but is equally dangerous on the wing.

Jasper is known for his ability to create scoring opportunities from nothing. He is known to swing a match, as he did during the Ixias' first-ever win over the Maties and was crowned as  Varsity Cup Player that Rocks in 2021.

Jasper hailed from Boland and represented the province during the 2017 Craven Week. He attended HTS Drostdy in Worcester.

The Toyota Cheetahs fullback has played 28 games since he joined the Toyota Cheetahs.

ANDELL LOUBSER

The utility back, Andell Loubser, has committed to another two seasons with the Toyota Cheetahs.

Hailing from Vredenberg in the Western Cape, Andell Loubser completed his schooling at Hoërskool Menlopark, where he made a name for himself as a top schoolboy prospect in the country. Loubser represented his province at two consecutive U18 Craven Weeks and had the rare honour of earning selection for the South African Schools team for two years.

Andell remained in Pretoria after high school, signing a junior contract with the Blue Bulls and turning out in the U19 and U21 Currie Cup. Loubser enjoyed a senior professional debut in the 2018 SuperSport Rugby Challenge. He alternated between fullback and wing and became a recognized goal kicker. He joined the Southern Kings in 2019, scoring a try on his Pro14 debut against the Cardiff Blues and impressing as the last line on defence, still just 23 years old.

Loubser's considerable size makes him difficult to stop from close quarters, whilst his calmness under the high ball is second to none. His rapid footwork, ability to outpace an opponent, and knowledge of when to offload in contact have led many a pundit to compare Loubser to a classic outside back in the Pacific Islands mould, with the pedigree of South Africa's finest rugby structures.

To date, Loubser has played 5 games with the Toyota Cheetahs.