Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd has secured the services of four strong front row players who will be fighting for the no. 1 jersey in 2017.

Ox Nche, Charles Marais, Danie Mienie and BG Uys are all available and have resigned their contracts with the Toyota Cheetahs and Toyota Free State Cheetahs for 2017. 

Ox Nche

Date of Birth:  11.12.1992

Weight:  105 kg

Height:  1.75 m

Ox Nche made his Super Rugby on the 28^th of February and had since played in 8 Super Rugby matches for the Toyota Cheetahs.   He had a very busy 2015 season and played in 26 matches:  u.20 Rugby World Cup (5), Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21 team (13), Vasity Cup (8). 

Ox played in all five World Cup matches in 2015, including the match against France which secured the team a third place.  Ox played in 13 of the 14 u.21 matches for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21’s including the final against Western Province.  He passed the try line three times during the season.

Charles Marais

Date of Birth:  29.08.1988

Weight:  120 kg

Height:  1.91 m

Despite not representing Western Province at secondary school level while a scholar at Paarl Boys' High School, Marais were included in the Free State U19 squad for the 2007 season after he moved to Bloemfontein to enroll at the University of the Free State.  He represented the Shimlas in the Varsity Cup competition, playing for them between 2009 and 2013.
He made his first class debut by starting in Free State’s team against the Argentinean Pampas XV in Parow. He remained involved in the Free State's Vodacom Cup campaigns in 2011-‘13 (15 appearances).
Marais has two short spells at near-neighbours the Griffons (2012-’13: 6 appearances). He made his Currie Cup debut during the 2012 Currie Cup First Division against the Falcons, marking the occasion by scoring his first ever senior try.
Marais moved to Johannesburg to join the Golden Lions for the 2014 season. He was a regular in their squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, playing in all 10 of their matches during the competition. Marais made his Super Rugby debut during the 2014 season as a substitute in their match against the Bulls.
In July 2014 Marais joined the EP Kings prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition playing 7 matches for them.

He made his Super Rugby debut for the Toyota Cheetahs this year and has since gained 10 caps for the team.

Danie Mienie

Date of Birth:  01.03.1991

Weight:  115 kg

Height:  1.79 kg

Danie Mienie made his senior debut for the Sharks XV (2012-2014: 15 games) in a Vodacom Cup match against the Border Bulldogs in East London on 9 March 2012.
Despite having no Currie Cup experience, he was called up to the Sharks (2013: 1 game) squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season following an injury to Springbok Tendai Mtawarira. He made his Super debut as a replacement prop for Wiehahn Herbst in a match against the Chiefs in Hamilton, New Zealand, on 27 April 2013.
He later that year played in six Currie Cup Premier games for the Sharks (2013-2014: 9 games).
He joined Griquas for the 2015 season and he played in 12 matches for them. Danie played in 15 Super Rugby matches for the Toyota Cheetahs during 2015, ten in the starting team.  An injury during a warm-up match against the Kings in Port Elizabeth and again on tour to Australia prevented him from raising his amount of caps to more than 18 thus far.

BG Uys

Date of Birth:  20.06.1988

Weight:  117 kg

Height:  1.9 m

Uys played Varsity Cup rugby for NWU Pukke between 2008 and 2010, which led to his inclusion in the South African Students' team. In 2012 he has played for the SA Barbarians (North) against England.
He made his Currie Cup debut for the Leopards in 2010 against the Blue Bulls and developed into a first team regular over the next four seasons, making 66 first class appearances in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions (2010-2013).
In 2013, while still contracted to the Leopards, Uys joined the Kings' training group prior to their debut Super Rugby season, but was later released to the Leopards' Vodacom Cup squad, playing the 2013 campaign before joining the Eastern Province Kings.

In 2015 the prop moved to Bloemfontein where he played 14 matches for the Toyota Cheetahs, making his Super Rugby debut in the third round match against the Bulls in Bloemfontein. He played his first of nine Currie Cup matches for the Free State against the Blue Bulls on 8 August 2015 in Bloemfontein.