Springboks great Francois Steyn set to call Swansea home

The Toyota Cheetahs will make Ospreys’ St Helen’s their European home this season after striking an agreement to stage their EPCR Challenge Cup pool fixtures in Swansea.

The South African side, coached by Springboks great Francois Steyn, will face Dragons at the ground on December 13 before returning to take on Top 14 outfit Perpignan on January 17.

Both matches will form part of double-header weekends at St Helen’s. The Ospreys host Harlequins 24 hours before the Cheetahs meet the Dragons, while Vannes visit Swansea the day before the Cheetahs face Perpignan.

The arrangement is the latest step in a growing relationship between the two clubs, which has already included player-development opportunities. The sides will also explore the possibility of training together while the Cheetahs are in Wales.

Ospreys managing director Richard Lancaster said the move showcased what owning their own venue could offer, while Cheetahs chief operating officer MJ Smith said the aim was to make St Helen’s a “home away from home”.

Fixture

Challenge Cup

Cheetahs

05:00

13 Dec 26

Dragons RFC

All Stats and Data

“The Ospreys are grateful to the WRU for its permission to play these matches at St Helen’s,” Lancaster said. “We’re really excited to welcome the Toyota Cheetahs for these two EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures.

“For us, 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.”

Smith added: “We aim to make St Helen’s a home away from home for the Toyota Cheetahs and, importantly, for our supporters abroad.

“We have built some wonderful relationships within European rugby, especially with Rugby Nederland and Zebre Parma in Italy. Now we have this wonderful opportunity to work with the Ospreys in Swansea, and we are very excited.”

Cheetahs director of rugby Steyn said: “It’s great to be welcomed so warmly by our friends in rugby, the Ospreys. 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.”