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Faf gets starting role in big Currie Cup showdown

By Warren Fortune
Wednesday 15 Jul 2026
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 19: Faf de Klerk during the South African national men's rugby team captains run at Pearson High School on June 19, 2026 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs head coach Frans Steyn has revealed his team for their Currie Cup opener against the Lions in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

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The headline grabber is Faf de Klerk’s inclusion in the starting team at scrumhalf.

It will be the Springbok star’s first appearance for the Cheetahs since he made the move back to South Africa from Japan.

His halfback partner will be flyhalf Jaco van der Walt, with Munier Hartzenberg and Zander du Plessis in the midfield.

Clayton Blommetjies gets the No.15 jersey, and his back-three partners will be Cohen Jasper and Michael Annies.

Neels Volschenk will captain the team from No.8 with Juan Venter and Ramon Uys on the flanks.

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The second row consists of Victor Sekekete and Carl Wegner, while Aranos Coetzee, Marko Janse van Rensburg and Tielman Niewoudt are in the front row.

The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Arno van der Merwe and Pierre Uys (back), Vice Hofmeyer (shoulders), Ntokozo Makhaza (knee), Louis van der Westhuizen, John-Kelly Okonkwo and Tiaan Swanepoel (all ankles), and Gideon van der Merwe (lower leg).

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Michael Annies, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Neels Volschenk (captain), 7 Juan Venter, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Tielman Niewoudt.
Replacements: 16 Juan Smal, 17 Dux Manyama, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Simon Muller, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ethan Wentzel, 23 Prince Nkabinde.

Date: Sunday, July 19
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 13.00 (11.00 GMT)
Referee: Dylen November
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Jonathan Lottering
TMO: Egon Seconds

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