CHEETAHS manager Helgard Muller said his team had been working hard and was hoping to bring home the rugby Currie Cup.

CHEETAHS manager Helgard Muller said his team had been working hard and was hoping to bring home the rugby Currie Cup.

"It is always an honour to play in the world's biggest competition," he said yesterday, adding that 70percent of his players are homegrown.

Muller is also proud of his current and former Springboks Juan Smith, Jongi Nokwe, Wian du Preez, Heinrich Brussouw, Kabamba Floors, Adriaan Strauss and Meyer Bosman.

"The Cheetahs have for the last 30 years been one of the top rugby teams. We are the second smallest province in South Africa and in rugby it makes us proud of our achievements," Muller said.

"We have passed the world when rugby was a white people's game. This is the best team and players choose it because it is the best side to play for.

"We try to give everybody an opportunity if they are capable."

Muller said getting players for the team was not an easy task.

"We go to schools and the nationals and look for the best players. We travel all over the country to do that.

"We have seen young players coming through. We are also looking at other ways to best improve the game."

The union was established in 1895 and was called the Free State Rugby Union.

The name changed a year into democracy.