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Bloemfontein – Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) is proud to present a bigger and more dynamic Toyota Challenge, set to return in June 2026 with expanded participation and high-calibre international opposition.
The Toyota Cheetahs, Suzuki Griquas and Airlink Pumas will have the opportunity to measure themselves against three international touring teams as part of the enhanced competition. Returning to Bloemfontein is Black Lion of Georgia, who also compete alongside the Toyota Cheetahs in the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) Challenge Cup, while they will be joined by Portugal and Romania ‘A’.
All three touring nations have already qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Georgia and Romania will line up in the same World Cup pool as South Africa, while Portugal makes a welcome return to the Free State capital after facing the Springboks in a sold‑out Test match at Toyota Stadium in 2024.
The first leg of the Toyota Challenge will take place at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on 5, 10 and 14 June, where the three South African teams will each face the visiting nations. The competition will then move to Tbilisi, Georgia, for the second leg in October.
“The Toyota Challenge continues to reflect everything Toyota stands for - resilience, performance and bringing people together. By expanding the competition in 2026 and welcoming quality international opposition, we’re not only raising the standard of rugby on the field but also creating a world class experience for fans and communities. We’re proud to support a platform that gives South African teams meaningful competition while showcasing local rugby on an international stage,” said Leon Theron, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors.
Echoing Theron’s sentiments, SA Rugby President Mark Alexander highlighted the tournament’s importance for all participants: “This competition provides Portugal, Georgia and Romania with the vital high-performance preparation required as they build towards the Rugby World Cup. Equally, the tournament offers the Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas invaluable international exposure. By competing against top teams from Europe, our sides will showcase and sharpen the budding potential of future Springbok talent.
The Toyota Challenge is a strategic investment in the growth of the game, the strengthening of international ties and the preparation of athletes for rugby’s greatest stage. We are looking forward to welcoming our European partners and celebrating the spirit of unity, performance and opportunity that this competition embodies.”
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said the competition continues to evolve since its launch: “Launched in 2021, the Toyota Challenge was created to deliver meaningful international competition for the Cheetahs outside the Vodacom URC environment, and this year it will be expanded to include Griquas and the Pumas as well. We’ve seen other South African teams join the Cheetahs in the Toyota Challenge in the past, but this year will be the first time Griquas and the Pumas join the action. Both have won the SA Cup and the Carling Currie Cup in the last few years, so we’re excited to see what they can bring to the party.”
Apart from high calibre rugby across three match days featuring three encounters per day, fans can also expect crowd activations and giveaways, family-friendly zones and student-focused entertainment and live entertainment.
As hosts of the first leg, Toyota Free State Cheetahs CEO Rory Duncan believes the 2026 edition marks a significant milestone for the tournament: “The new format brings real energy and excitement to the tournament, with three international match days and multiple fixtures played on one day, it creates a true festival for rugby for both players and fans.”
“We have a partner in Toyota that believes in our vision of playing in a meaningful international competition, and we’re incredibly grateful to Toyota South Africa Motors for their continued support. We also thank SA Rugby for helping to bring this concept to life. As we head into the sixth edition of the tournament, the 2026 Toyota Challenge promises to deliver a world-class rugby experience and continue growing the game on an international stage.”
International partners echoed the value of the Toyota Challenge in their World Cup preparations.
Highlighting the importance of the Toyota Challenge, Davit Katcharava, President of the Georgian Rugby Union, said: “I believe it fully aligns with the objectives we aim to achieve with Black Lion and I am very grateful to SA Rugby and the Toyota Cheetahs for this opportunity, it provides a huge potential for tournament development, and it could grow into an even more significant event in the future. Accordingly, creating the tournament and participating in it is a major success for Georgian rugby and Black Lion.”
Carlos Amado da Silva, President of the Portuguese Rugby Federation, added: “Participating in the 2026 Toyota Challenge represents a strategic opportunity to further develop our players in a highly competitive international environment. This competition, which brings together different cultures and styles of play, is essential to raising performance standards and showcasing talent on a global stage.”
Alin Petrache, President of the Romanian Rugby Union, emphasised the importance of elite competition ahead of the World Cup: “It helps build structure, it helps players evolve, even more considering that Romania ‘A’ is the first step towards the seniors’ representative team. The tournament schedules three games with very dynamic and physical opponents, so I hope that the experience, both on a sport and on a human level, will contribute to their individual development as future Oaks. I would like to express a special thanks to SA Rugby and my friend Mark Alexander for their invitation to this tournament. We are very grateful for the support shown by the country holding the world champion title.”
Toyota Challenge Fixtures
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Friday, 5 June 2026
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Sunday, 14 June 2026
The Toyota Challenge continues to underline Toyota South Africa Motors’ long-standing commitment to the Toyota Cheetahs, South African rugby and the broader sporting ecosystem. Through sustained investment and partnership, Toyota remains focused on creating platforms that enable performance, development and global exposure for players, teams and fans alike.
For more information on Toyota’s brand partnerships, please visit Toyota Community Sponsorships | Toyota South Africa.
