The Cheetahs have named a settled matchday squad, welcoming back two loanees from Wales, for their Challenge Cup opener against Zebre on Saturday.
Having progressed to the last 16 in their Challenge Cup debut – losing to eventual champions Toulon – the Cheetahs have been able to retain most of their players for their second foray into Europe.
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Nine of the starting XV that faced Toulon in France will start in the opening-round clash with Zebre in Parma.
This includes fullback Tapiwa Mafura, centre Reinhardt Fortuin, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, loose forwards Jeandre Rudolph and Gideon van der Merwe and captain Victor Sekekete.
Two of the Cheetahs players that were on loan with Welsh side Ospreys, hooker Marnus van der Merwe and scrumhalf Rewan Kruger have re-united with the team in Italy and have been included in the matchday 23.
Cheetahs – 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Siba Xamlashe, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Laurence Victor, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Subs: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Sibabalo Qoma, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Ali Mgijima.
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