Duo extend contracts with Cheetahs
In 2014 Charles Marais made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions during the 2014 season against the Bulls. He joined the EP Kings in July 2014 prior to the Currie Cup Premier Division competition and playing in seven matches for the team.
He signed a deal that would see him play for the Cheetahs in the 2016 season. Marais played all 10 games in the 2016 Currie Cup, including the semifinal against the Lions in Bloemfontein and in the home Final against the Blue Bulls, which the Cheetahs won. Marais represented the Free State Cheetahs in 16 Currie Cup matches and 28 Super Rugby games. He made his Pro14 debut on September 1, 2017 against Ulster and earned 17 caps ever since.
Basson moved to Bloemfontein from Pretoria to join the Free State Cheetahs and started the season playing for the UFS Shimlas Young Guns, scoring a try in the final of the 2014 Varsity Cup Young Guns competition to help them win the competition.
He started nine games for the Free State Under-21 in the Provincial Championship. He was included in a Free State XV that participated in the 2015 Vodacom Cup. He made his first-class debut in 2016 against Boland. Basson has played in 12 Currie Cup matches so far, including the semifinal and Final.
Basson has represented the Cheetahs in five Super Rugby and 13 Pro14 matches to date.
