Cheetahs put their case for Super 14
July 19, 2001

Rugby in the heartland of South Africa would suffer if the Free State Cheetah's are overlooked when a decision is made on country's fifth Super 12 team this Friday.

Although the Cheetahs have long been considered the favourites to join the expanded Super 12 competition in 2003 it has emerged that other options are being considered.

South African Rugby Football Union chief executive Rian Oberholzer has floated the idea of a Baby Boc squad of national U23 and U21 players based in Port Elizabeth that would help to hasten the introduction of more black players into the sport.

It is an idea that has many backers in South Africa as the sport of rugby struggles to overcome its "white only" image and tap into the talent inherent in the black population.

But Cheetahs managing director Harold Verster believes the fifth team would have to come with provincial support in order to enough fans. He was backed by Jomo King, of the Johannesburg Golden Cats, of which the Cheetahs are a part, who said the franchise would suffer if there was a split.

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