The Suzuki Griquas have taken the international Toyota Challenge by storm in their tournament debut, securing commanding victories over Romania A and Georgia’s Black Lion in Bloemfontein.

With a perfect two-from-two record, the Peacock Blues now shift their focus to their final clash against Portugal’s Lusitanos. In the Toyota Challenge, the Griquas joined the Toyota Cheetahs and Airlink Pumas to take on top-tier international opposition.

The campaign kicked off with a hard-fought 35-20 victory over a physical Romania A outfit on Friday 5 June at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. Despite several regular starters being rested and an early head injury to Zinedine Robinson, the squad’s depth shone through. Replacement fly-half Liam Koen stepped up brilliantly, converting all five tries and keeping the scoreboard ticking whilst debutant Simon Liversage made an immediate impact by opening the scoring.

Building on their opener, the Griquas produced a masterclass in attacking rugby to dismantle Georgia’s Black Lion by 56-21 on Wednesday 10 June. The Currie Cup champions raced to a blistering 28-0 half-time lead, crossing the whitewash eight times. Lock Lungi Mbiko scored within the opening minute, followed by an inventive midfield lineout move that allowed Dillon Smith to score their third try. Even after a red card reduced them to 14 men in the second half, the Griquas continued their relentless momentum.

Carel van der Merwe’s standout performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

The final showdown

With two resounding wins in the bag, the men from the Northern Cape are ready to complete the sweep. Their third and final match sees them square off against the Portuguese side, Lusitanos, on Sunday 14 June at 12:00.

Fans can catch the action live on SuperSport as the Peacock Blues look to write another thrilling chapter in Bloemfontein.

For fans attending the match at the stadium, more than just rugby can be expected. All matchday experiences include fan activations and giveaways, in addition to family-friendly zones, student-focused activities and live entertainment offered throughout the day’s events.