Cheetahs welcome back Aidon Davis after extraordinary cancer journey
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Aidon Davis will complete one of South African rugby’s most inspiring comeback stories on Thursday when he makes his long-awaited return for the Cheetahs in their Tbilisi Cup opener against Portugal’s Lusitanos.
The 32-year-old former Junior Springbok is set to play his first competitive match in two years after overcoming non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and months of rehabilitation.
A former Cheetahs captain, Davis was sidelined after returning from England, where he played for Exeter Chiefs. While he has been training with the Bloemfontein side for more than a year, he has only now been cleared to return to competitive rugby.
His journey back follows a life-changing diagnosis in December 2023, when he was told he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma while playing for Exeter. Davis stepped away from the game to undergo intensive chemotherapy treatment before successfully beating cancer.
Despite being unable to play, Davis remained an important part of the Cheetahs setup throughout his recovery. He helped coach the union’s junior teams and also worked closely with the senior squad while rebuilding his strength.
His comeback is made even more remarkable by the story he shares with his wife, Suné Senekal Davis, who was also diagnosed with cancer in her 20s. Together they founded The Davis Foundation (TDF), a non-profit organisation that provides hope-filled care packages to patients undergoing cancer treatment.
As the Cheetahs departed for Georgia this week, Davis shared an emotional Instagram post reflecting on the journey that has brought him back to the rugby field, writing: ‘I’m getting on a plane Monday to Georgia to compete in the Tbilisi Cup.
‘Something that, at one stage, I thought I would never do again was play rugby. So, I’m obviously very excited, but also very nervous.
‘My last official game was back in 2024, almost two years to the date. The last battle with cancer was a long and hard one, and God is the only reason why I’m here and why I’m able to get on a rugby field again.
‘Yes, it’s been a very long time since I’ve played the game. I’ve been getting fit, giving my body time to recover and working hard to get to this point. But playing is a different story.’
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The Cheetahs have named a mixed squad for the Tbilisi Cup, with several experienced players rested after the demanding Currie Cup campaign, while a number of injured players return and several new signings are in line to make their debuts.
Among the notable returnees are Namibian international hooker Chucky van der Westhuizen and former UCT Ikeys star winger Ntokozo Makhaza.
The Cheetahs open their Tbilisi Cup campaign against Lusitanos in Georgia on Thursday afternoon.
Cheetahs touring squad: Duncan Basson, Sibabalwe Booi, Aidon Davis, Darius Erwee, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Daniel Maartens, Ntokozo Makhaza, Dux Manyma, Mihlali Mosi, Sasko Ndlovu, Jandré Nel, Tielman Niewoudt, Siya Ningiza, Tebogo Nkosi, Litha Nkula, John-Kelly Okonkwo, Ben Pitout, Shaun Ray, Juandré Schoeman, Tiaan Swanepoel, Arno van der Merwe, Chucky van der Westhuizen, Juan Venter, Stefan Venter, Erich Visser, Sisonke Vumazonke, Carl Wegner and Ethan Wentzel
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