Cheetahs to Host European Challenge Cup Matches at St Helen’s in Swansea

The South African rugby team, the Cheetahs, will be playing their European Challenge Cup home matches at St Helen’s in Swansea this season. This venue is also the home ground of the Welsh side, the Ospreys.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Cheetahs vs Dragons – Sunday, 13 December
• Cheetahs vs Perpignan – Sunday, 17 January

Both matches are scheduled to take place a day after the Ospreys’ home games in the same competition, creating a unique rugby atmosphere in Swansea.

The Cheetahs have a history of using European venues for their matches in the second-tier tournament, with their previous games in the 2025-26 season held in Amsterdam. This move to St Helen’s marks a significant step in their European campaign.

There are existing connections between the Ospreys and the Cheetahs, as Y11 Sports & Media holds a majority stake in the Ospreys and has an investment interest in the South African team. This relationship has facilitated player movements between the two clubs, further enhancing their collaboration.

Richard Lancaster, managing director of the Ospreys, expressed gratitude to the Welsh Rugby Union for allowing these matches to take place at St Helen’s. He stated, “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.”

Frans Steyn, the Cheetahs’ director of rugby and a former South Africa international, shared his enthusiasm about the partnership. He remarked, “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.”

The Ospreys are set to play their first match at the redeveloped St Helen’s on Saturday, 24 October, against the Dragons in a Welsh derby as part of the United Rugby Championship.

Source: This original report was produced by WTGO Newsroom using verified reporting from BBC Sport.