Ospreys Rugby and the Toyota Cheetahs are excited to announce that St Helen’s will host the Toyota Cheetahs’ two home fixtures for their 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup campaign.

The South African side will make St Helen’s their European home for the 2026/27 pool stage, facing Welsh side Dragons RFC and French Top 14 outfit USAP.

The Toyota Cheetahs will first take on the Dragons on Sunday 13 December 2026 at 1:00pm, before returning to St Helen’s to face USAP on Sunday 17 January 2027 at 3:15pm.

Both fixtures will form part of two exciting weekends of back-to-back European rugby at St Helen’s. The Cheetahs’ clash with the Dragons on 13 December comes just 24 hours after the Ospreys host Harlequins on Saturday 12 December, while their meeting with USAP on 17 January follows the Ospreys’ fixture against RC Vannes on Saturday 16 January.

It will give supporters the opportunity to enjoy four EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures at St Helen’s across the two weekends, further showcasing the venue as a home for top-level rugby.

The announcement represents another positive development in the growing relationship between the Ospreys and Toyota Cheetahs, while also bringing two additional European fixtures to the newly redeveloped St Helen’s.

The relationship between the two clubs has continued to develop in recent seasons, including player-development opportunities that have allowed players to experience different rugby environments and styles of play.

Hosting the Toyota Cheetahs’ EPCR fixtures at St Helen’s is another example of the tangible opportunities created for both clubs, while also bringing additional high-quality rugby to supporters in Swansea and the wider region.

Beyond the fixtures themselves, the clubs will also explore opportunities for the Ospreys and Toyota Cheetahs squads to train and work alongside one another during their time in Swansea, building on the existing relationship and allowing players and coaches to share ideas, experiences and different rugby perspectives.

Ospreys Managing Director (Business), Richard Lancaster, said:

“The Ospreys are grateful to the WRU for its permission to play these matches at St Helen's. We’re really 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.

“For us, it also demonstrates the opportunities that St Helen’s can create. Having our own venue gives us the ability to bring additional high-quality rugby and events to Swansea.”

MJ Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Cheetahs said:

"We are extremely grateful to the Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union for their support in making this opportunity possible. We have built some wonderful relationships within European rugby, especially with Rugby Nederland and Zebre Parma in Italy. Now we have this wonderful opportunity to work with the Ospreys in Swansea, and we are very excited.

“We aim to make St Helen's a home away from home for the Toyota Cheetahs and, importantly, for our supporters abroad. We want to create a memorable matchday experience where Cheetahs supporters can come together, enjoy great rugby and a nice braai and feel part of the Toyota Cheetahs family."

Frans Steyn, Director of Rugby, Toyota Cheetahs said:

"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. Most importantly, we're looking forward to getting out there and playing some good Cheetah rugby."

Ticketing information for both fixtures, including on-sale dates and availability, will be announced shortly. Supporters are encouraged to keep an eye on Ospreys and Toyota Cheetahs channels for further information.

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Editor’s Notes:

Toyota Cheetahs

The Toyota Cheetahs compete in Pool 1 of the 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup alongside Ulster Rugby, USAP, Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais and Zebre Parma. Their four pool-stage fixtures are:

• Sunday 18 October 2026: Aviron Bayonnais v Toyota Cheetahs, 12:00, Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
• Sunday 13 December 2026: Toyota Cheetahs v Dragons RFC, 13:00, St Helen’s, Swansea
• Sunday 10 January 2027: Zebre Parma v Toyota Cheetahs, 18:30, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
• Sunday 17 January 2027: Toyota Cheetahs v USAP, 15:15, St Helen’s, Swansea

Ospreys

The Ospreys compete in Pool 3 of the 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup alongside Edinburgh Rugby, Black Lion, Harlequins, RC Toulon and RC Vannes. Their four pool-stage fixtures are:

• Saturday 17 October 2026: Black Lion v Ospreys, 12:00, Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi
• Saturday 12 December 2026: Ospreys v Harlequins, 13:00, St Helen’s, Swansea
• Saturday 9 January 2027: RC Toulon v Ospreys, 13:00, Stade Félix Mayol, Toulon
• Saturday 16 January 2027: Ospreys v RC Vannes, 20:00, St Helen’s, Swansea