Leopards (rugby team)

Leopards
Full name North West Leopards
Union Leopards Rugby Union
Emblem(s) Leopard
Founded 1920
Region North West Province
Ground(s) Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom (Capacity: 5,000)
Coach(es) Jonathan Mokuena
Captain(s) Chriswill September
League(s) Currie Cup First Division
2017 Runner-up
3rd on log
Team kit
Official website
www.leopardsrugby.com
Current season

The Leopards (Afrikaans: Luiperds) is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament, currently playing in the First Division. Their home ground is Olën Park in Potchefstroom. They draw their players from the North West Province. The union was formed in 1920 and was originally called Western Transvaal.[1]

History

For most of their history they've played in the second tier of the Currie Cup, but they were promoted to the Premier Division for the 2009 season after defeating the Falcons in a promotion-relegation playoff in October 2008. They remained in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup until the end of 2011 season after beating the SWD Eagles from the Southern Cape in promotion/relegation matches at the end of 2009 and 2010. However, the decision of Saru to reduce the number of teams in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup as from 2012, saw the Leopards moving down to the First Division.

They became the first black-owned rugby team in South Africa, after securing sponsorship from Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings in October 2007.[2] André May was elected as the new president of the Union on 29 April 2010 and was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term during April 2016, and will his current term extend until April 2019. May is a former player of Western Transvaal with 75 matches for the Union. The CEO is Andries de Kock and the Manager Amateur Rugby is Eugene Vourie.

The Leopards also known as the Luiperds in Afrikaans is based primarily in the university town of Potchefstroom, however in recent years have played some home games at the much larger Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and most recently also at Rustenburg Impala Rugby Club and at other rugby clubs all around the province. They draw their fans from across the North West Province and used to average crowds of 5,000 to home Currie Cup fixtures. Their traditional rivals include the Blue Bulls, the Golden Lions and the Pumas.

Honours

The team's major tournament wins include the 2015 Currie Cup First Division.

Current squad

The following players were named in the squad for the 2018 Currie Cup First Division:[3]

Leopards Currie Cup squad

Props

  • South Africa Theodore Ferreira
  • South Africa Ruan Grundlingh
  • South Africa Robert Hunt
  • South Africa Matimu Manganyi
  • South Africa Joe Smith
  • South Africa Brendan Strydom
  • South Africa Morné Strydom
  • Namibia Nelius Theron

Hookers

Locks

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

  • South Africa Eugene Hare
  • South Africa Sylvester Hassien
  • South Africa Nkosana Mathaba
  • South Africa Chriswill September (c)

Fly-halves

  • South Africa DP de Lange
  • South Africa Schalk Hugo

Centres

Wingers

  • South Africa Frans Botha
  • South Africa Dean Gordon
  • South Africa Jimmy Mpailane
  • Namibia Justin Newman
  • South Africa Dean Stokes
  • South Africa Gene Willemse

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain and Bold denotes internationally capped.

References

  1. ↑ "Leopards". sarugby.net. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Leopards become first black-owned rugby franchise in SA". Mail & Guardian Online. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  3. ↑ "Squad: Leopards". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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