The Toyota Cheetahs will begin with their preseason this morning ahead of the 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Cheetahs will be heading back to Europe for a third time in the competition and this season they will face Perpignan, Cardiff, Zebre and Lyon in the group stage.

The Cheetahs will once again be based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for their home games which will be against Perpignan and Zebre. There will be no games in Bloemfontein this season as there are no South African teams in their group as was the case last year.

Daniel Maartens - Morgan Piek

The only game the Cheetahs played in Bloemfontein was when they beat the eventual champions, the Sharks, 32-29 in a thrilling December game at the Toyota Stadium.

The Cheetahs are set to welcome back several senior players from long-term injuries and they include the live-wire and versatile flanker, Daniel Maartens.

Other senior players who will make a return from injury include Chucky van der Westhuizen, Jeandré Rudolph and Ali Mgijima.

Maartens, who missed the entire Currie Cup, told OFM Sport that he cannot wait to get stuck in and he is aiming to make an impression and win back his jersey.

“It was a very disappointing season, especially with the injury at the start of this year and with the Currie Cup again,” said Maartens.

“But yes, I'm very excited for the preseason to start, especially to make my mark in the preseason and to train well, train hard, and help the team in Europe and to get my place back on the team.

“I'm really excited for the new season, and it's always very nice to go play overseas in the EPCR Challenge Cup. Hopefully this year we can take it a step further - we want to show the people, like we always say, that we deserve to play in Europe.”

The Cheetahs first game in the EPCR Challenge Cup will be on 8 December against Perpignan in Amsterdam.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport