Coach Hawies Fourie has included two-time World Cup winner Frans Steyn in a 27-man squad for the Cheetahs’ upcoming European Challenge Cup fixtures.

Steyn, who last played for the Free Staters in the Toyota Challenge against the USA Falcons in October, will be joined on tour by fellow Springboks Ruan Pienaar and Oupa Mohoje.

The squad will travel from Bloemfontein to Europe on 5 December before kicking off their maiden Challenge Cup campaign against Pau in France on 10 December, before facing Scarlets a week later in Italy.

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Fourie’s charges will then return to South Africa for the festive break before heading to Wales in 2023 to face the Scarlets on 13 January, and then renew hostilities with Pau in Parma seven days later.

The Cheetahs’ two “home” games against Scarlets and Pau will be played at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, as the Bloemfontein outfit will be based in Europe as part of the conditions for their involvement in the tournament.

Full Cheetahs squad:
Forwards: Rynier Bernardo, Aranos Coetzee, Marne Coetzee, Schalk Ferreira, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Daniel Maartens, Mzamo Majola, Oupa Mohoje, Friedle Olivier, Sibabalo Qoma, Jeandré Rudolph, Victor Sekekete (c), Marnus van der Merwe, Louis van der Westhuizen, Hencus van Wyk, Mzwanele Zito. Backs: David Brits, Robert Ebersohn, Reinhardt Fortuin, Munier Hartzenberg, Cohen Jasper, Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger, Tapiwa Mafura, Siya Masuku, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn.

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Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix