Toyota Challenge
{{Short description|Rugby union competition in South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Toyota Challenge
| current_season = #2024|2024
| logo =
| sport = Rugby union
| inaugural = 2021
| teams = {{plainlist|
- 2024 teams:
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Cheetahs
- {{flagdeco|IRE|rugby union}} Emerging Ireland
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Griffons
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Pumas
- {{flagdeco|AUS}} Western Force
}}
| country =
| venue = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
| titles_label =
| titles =
| champion = {{nowrap|{{flagdeco|IRE}} Emerging Ireland (2024)}}
| champ_season =
| most_champs = {{flagdeco|RSA}} Cheetahs (10 titles)
| website =
}}
The Toyota Challenge is a rugby union competition hosted in South Africa by the Cheetahs, a team sponsored by Toyota SA.[http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/news/romans-and-countrymen-here-comes-a-rugby-feast-20211022 ROMANS AND COUNTRYMEN, HERE COMES A RUGBY FEAST!] The first tournament took place at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein between 13 November and 26 November 2021.[https://thestormers.com/dhl-stormers-ready-for-toyota-challenge/ DHL STORMERS XV READY FOR TOYOTA CHALLENGE]
In 2021, four teams played against the Cheetahs across four matches, with a 250,000 rand prize money for each match. In addition, players were rewarded for "positive play actions" during the games, while fans were rewarded for supporting their favourite teams in the stadium and online on various social media platforms.[https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/new-money-spinning-tournament-coming-to-bloem-as-cheetahs-announce-toyota-challenge-20211022 New money-spinning tournament coming to Bloem as Cheetahs announce Toyota Challenge]
The Cheetahs are currently without a permanent tournament, whilst the Stormers and Sharks compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC). CSM Știința Baia Mare competes in Romania's top level professional league the SuperLiga and Diables Barcelona are a newly formed Spanish pro team to promote professionalism in the Spain.
The Toyota Challenge fixtures are broadcast by SuperSport.[https://supersport.com/rugby/news/211022_Toyota_Challenge_to_light_up_November Toyota Challenge to light up November]
The Cheetahs won six out of eight Toyota Challenge matches since 2021 making them the most successful team in the tournament.
In 2022, the competition returned with five team competing in a four-match Toyota Challenge with each match winning again winning a 250,000 rand prize money.[https://www.springboks.rugby/news-features/articles/2022/08/31/a-cool-million-up-for-grabs-in-the-toyota-challenge/ A cool million up for grabs in the Toyota Challenge] The Cheetahs remained as the hosts and are joined by Emerging Ireland, USA Falcons XV and Griquas. Italy A had been set to participate, but later withdrew and replaced by the Bulls.[https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2022-09-14-bulls-replace-italy-a-in-the-toyota-challenge/ Bulls replace Italy A in the Toyota Challenge]
Competing teams
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Cheetahs (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- {{flagdeco|ROM}} CSM Știința Baia Mare (2021)
- {{flagdeco|CAT}} Diables Barcelona (2021)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Sharks (2021)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Stormers XV (2021)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Western Province XV (2022)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Bulls (2022)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Griffons (2024)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Griquas (2022)
- {{flagdeco|RSA}} Pumas (2022, 2024)
- {{flagdeco|IRE|rugby union}} Emerging Ireland (2022, 2024)
- {{flagdeco|USA}} USA National A (2022)
- {{flagdeco|AUS}} Western Force (2023, 2024)
Overall Record
The overall record for the teams in the Toyota Challenge matches is as follows:
| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center; line-height:130%; font-size:90%; width:45%;" | ||
| colspan=6 | Toyota Challenge Overall Record | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="width:20%;" | Team Name
! style="width:25%;" | Champions ! style="width:15%;" | Runner-Up | ||
| align=left | Cheetahs | 10 | 5 |
| align=left | Emerging Ireland | 4 | 0 |
| align=left | Western Force | 3 | 4 |
| align=left | Stormers XV | 1 | 0 |
| align=left | Diables Barcelona | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | Sharks | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | CSM Știința Baia Mare | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | Bulls | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | USA National A | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | Griquas | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | Pumas | 0 | 1 |
| align=left | Griffons | 0 | 1 |
2021
=Toyota Challenge Fixtures=
The below fixtures counted towards games where the winners would win the 250,000 rand prize money.
{{Rugbybox
|date = 13 November 2021
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 30–31
|report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/8004 Summary]
|away = Stormers XV
|try1 = G. van der Merwe 13' c
Kasende 20' c
Jasper 71' c
|con1 = Masuku (2/2) 14', 22'
Thomson (1/1) 72'
|pen1 = Masuku (3/3) 8', 43', 48'
|try2 = Theunissen 38' c
Senatla (2) 68' c, 80+2' m
|con2 = Mngomezulu (2/3) 39', 69'
|pen2 = Mngomezulu (4/4) 6', 11', 31', 57'
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Marius van der Westhuizen
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 17 November 2021
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 99–15
|report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/8005 Summary]
|away = Diables Barcelona
|try1 = Brandt (2) 1' m, 9' c
Potgieter (2) 17' c, 33' m
Boshoff (3) 19' c, 70' c, 76' c
Booysen 20' c
Mafuma (2) 36' m, 80' c
Botha (2) 40' c, 63' c
Viljoen 50' c
Mohojé 54' c
Venter 61' c
|con1 = Thomson (12/15) 10', 18', 20', 22', 40+1', 52', 55', 62', 64', 72', 77', 80+1'
|try2 = Brand 31' c
Yika 68' m
|con2 = Van Bilion (1/2) 32'
|pen2 = Van Bilion (1/2) 24'
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Cwengile Jadezweni
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 20 November 2021
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 40–34
|report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/8006 Summary]
|away = Sharks
|try1 = Brandt (2) 25' c, 36' c
Brits (2) 41' c, 69' c
|con1 = Masuku (4/4) 26', 38', 42', 71'
|pen1 = Masuku (4/4) 22', 34', 65', 77'
|try2 = Pienaar 3' m
Potgieter 19' m
Bleuler 54' c
Volmink 60' c
Ward 80' c
|con2 = Chamberlain (3/5) 55', 62', 80+1'
|pen2 = Chamberlain (1/1) 6'
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Rasta Rasivhenge
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 26 November 2021
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 54–5
|report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/8007 Summary]
|away = CSM Știința Baia Mare
|try1 = Potgieter 19' c
G. van der Merwe 38' m
Boshoff 46' c
Van der Westhuizen 53' c
Penalty try 61'
M. van der Merwe 64' c
Masuku 74' c
Sekekete 80' c
|con1 = Thomson (2/3) 20', 47'
Masuku (4/4) 54', 65', 75', 80+2'
|try2 = Mahlo 3' m
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Ruhan Meiring
}}
=Toyota Friendlies=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 20 November 2021
|home = CSM Știința Baia Mare
|score = 72–14
|report =
|away = Free State XV
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Jaco Kotze
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 25 November 2021
|home = Diables Barcelona
|score = 6–59
|report =
|away = {{Ru|KEN}}
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Griffin Colby
}}
2022
=Toyota Challenge Fixtures=
The below fixtures counted towards games where the winners would win the 250,000 rand prize money.
{{Rugbybox
|date = 30 September 2022
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 17–14
|report =
|away = Bulls
|try1 = Mzwanele Zito, Enver Brandt, Chucky van der Westhuizen
|con1 = Ruan Pienaar
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 = Jacques van Rooyen 13' , Penalty try 60'
|con2 = Morné Steyn 14'
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Paul Mente
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 9 October 2022
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 14–21
|report = [https://www.the42.ie/cheetahs-v-emerging-ireland-5888736-Oct2022/ Report]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Emerging Ireland
|try1 = Penalty try (2) 26' c 75' c
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 = Doak 20' c
Daly 53' c
Osborne 60' c
|con2 = Crowley (3/3)
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Morné Ferreira
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 14 October 2022
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 53–25
|away = {{flagicon|USA}} USA Falcons
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Stephan Geldenhuys
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 21 October 2022
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 27–20
|report =
|away = Griquas
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Christopher Allison
}}
=Toyota Friendlies=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 30 September 2022
|home = Griquas
|score = 7–54
|report = [https://www.the42.ie/emerging-ireland-griquas-2-5881032-Sep2022/ Report]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Emerging Ireland
|try1 = Otto 32' c
|con1 = Fouché (1/1)
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 = Penny (2) 13' c 36' c
Baloucoune 24' c
Wycherley 40' c
Moore 53' c
Daly 61' c
McCann 68' m
Nash 79' c
|con2 = Crowley (6/6)
Flannery (1/2)
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Morné Ferreira
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 5 October 2022
|home = Pumas
|score = 24–28
|report = [https://www.the42.ie/emerging-ireland-pumas-report-5884965-Oct2022/ Report]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Emerging Ireland
|try1 = Fouché 20' m
Swart 30' c
de Klerk (2) 60' m 65' c
|con1 = de Beer (2/4)
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 = Mullins 7' c
Culhane (2) 10' c 52' c
Flannery 16' c
|con2 = Flannery (4/4)
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Cwengile Jadezweni
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 5 October 2022
|home = Griquas
|score = 41–7
|report =
|away = Bulls
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Griffin Colby
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 9 October 2022
|home = Pumas
|score = 27–20
|report =
|away = Western Province XV
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Griffin Colby
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 21 October 2022
|home = Pumas
|score = 33–15
|away = {{flagicon|USA}} USA Falcons
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Jaco Peyper
}}
2023
=Toyota Challenge Fixtures=
The below fixtures counted towards games where the winners would win the 250,000 rand prize money.
{{Rugbybox
|date = 26 August 2023
|time =
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 31–27
|report =
|away = Western Force
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 2 September 2023
|time =
|home = Cheetahs
|score = 27–12
|report =
|away = Western Force
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 29 September 2023
|time =
|home = Western Force
|score = 30–27
|report =
|away = Cheetahs
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|date = 7 October 2023
|time =
|home = Western Force
|score = 22–32
|report =
|away = Cheetahs
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|drop1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|drop2 =
|stadium = Revo Fitness Stadium, Claremont
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
2024
{{Rugbybox
|home = Emerging Ireland {{flagdeco|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 36–24
|report = [https://www.irishrugby.ie/report/emerging-ireland-score-six-tries-in-opening-victory-over-pumas/ Report]
|away = {{flagdeco|RSA}} Pumas
|try1 = Ward 14' m
Murray 28' c
Izuchukwu 39' c
Smyth 42' m
McCarthy 61' m
Penalty try 76'
|con1 = Prendergast (2/4) 28', 39'
|pen1 =
|try2 = Msenge 32' c
Swanepoel (2) 55' c, 80' m
Swart 73' m
|con2 = Swart (2/4) 32', 55'
|pen2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa){{cite web |date=3 October 2024 |title=Emerging Ireland Score Six Tries In Opening Victory Over Pumas |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/report/emerging-ireland-score-six-tries-in-opening-victory-over-pumas/ |url-status=live |website=irishrugby.ie |publisher=IRFU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002231105/https://www.irishrugby.ie/report/emerging-ireland-score-six-tries-in-opening-victory-over-pumas/ |archive-date=2 October 2024 }}
}}
{{Rugbybox
|home = Cheetahs {{flagdeco|RSA}}
|score = 24–38
|report = [https://westernforce.rugby/news/force-cheetahs-toyota-challenge-report-2024102 Report]
|away = {{flagdeco|AUS}} Western Force
|try1 = van der Merwe 16' c
Annies 43' m
Wegner 63' m
Paulo 80+2' c
|con1 = Wentzel (1/3) 17'
Loubser (1/1) 80+3'
|pen1 =
|try2 = Potter (2) 4' c, 37' c
Dolly 31' m
Harris 47' c
|con2 = Burey (3/4) 5', 39', 49'
|pen2 = Burey (2/2) 19', 40+1'
Miln (2/2) 70', 73'
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = Ben Whitehouse (Wales){{cite web |date=2 October 2024 |title=TOYOTA CHALLENGE TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Toyota Cheetahs vs Western Force |url=https://www.fscheetahs.co.za/news/toyota-challenge-team-announcement-toyota-cheetahs-vs-western-force-20241001 |url-status=live |website=fscheetahs.co.za |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002183139/https://www.fscheetahs.co.za/news/toyota-challenge-team-announcement-toyota-cheetahs-vs-western-force-20241001 |archive-date=2 October 2024 }}
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|home = Emerging Ireland {{flagdeco|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 29–24
|away = {{flagdeco|AUS}} Western Force
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee = H van Rooyen (South Africa)
}}
{{Rugbybox
|home = Cheetahs {{flagdeco|RSA}}
|score = 45-21
|report =report[https://ruggas.co.za/toyota-challenge-toyota-cheetahs-cruise-to-win-against-novavit-griffons/]
|away = {{flagdeco|RSA}} Griffons
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
----
{{Rugbybox
|home = Cheetahs {{flagdeco|RSA}}
|score = 24–33
|report =
|away = {{flagdeco|IRE|rugby union}} Emerging Ireland
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
|attendance =
|referee =
}}