In a move that deepens an existing cross-continental rugby partnership, the South African rugby union side Cheetahs has confirmed that it will host its 2025-26 European Challenge Cup home matches at Ospreys’ St Helen’s ground in Swansea, Wales.
The two confirmed fixtures will see Cheetahs take on Welsh regional side Dragons on Sunday 13 December, followed by a clash against French outfit Perpignan on Sunday 17 January. Both matches are scheduled one day after Ospreys play their own home Challenge Cup games at the same venue, creating a unique back-to-back rugby match weekend for fans in Swansea.
Cheetahs have a long-standing arrangement of hosting their European Challenge Cup matches on the continent, rather than traveling back to South Africa between games, to cut down on travel time and costs. For the 2025-26 tournament, the side previously hosted its European home matches in Amsterdam, marking a new chapter with the move to Wales this season.
The partnership between Ospreys and Cheetahs is already well-established through shared investment ties. Y11 Sports & Media holds a majority controlling stake in the Welsh Ospreys side and also maintains an investment interest in the South African Cheetahs, with a growing track record of player transfers between the two clubs.
For Ospreys, the new agreement also comes ahead of their own historic first match at the newly redeveloped St Helen’s ground. The Welsh side will open their redeveloped venue with a United Rugby Championship (URC) Welsh derby against Dragons on Saturday 24 October, weeks before the first Cheetahs fixture at the ground.
Ospreys managing director Richard Lancaster noted that the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) granted necessary permission for Cheetahs to use the venue for the two matches. “We’re excited to welcome the Toyota Cheetahs for these two EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures. There is already a strong relationship between the two clubs and this is another really positive step in developing that further,” Lancaster said. “It also demonstrates the opportunities that St Helen’s can create. Having our own venue gives us the ability to bring additional high-quality rugby and events to Swansea.”
Frans Steyn, the former South Africa international who now serves as Cheetahs’ director of rugby, echoed the positive sentiment around the arrangement. “It’s great to be welcomed so warmly by our friends in rugby, the Ospreys,” Steyn said. “St Helen’s has a proud history, and we’re looking forward to playing there, experiencing the newly redeveloped stadium and making it our home in Europe.”