User:POds/Sandbox/Rugby league in South Africa
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[edit] The National Team
The South African national rugby league team is called the Rhinos. In addition to the national team, a representative team of South Africans living in the United Kingdom was formed in 2004, and called the Wild Dogs.
[edit] History
Rugby league in South Africa has a long and turbulent history, consisting of no less then three and possibly four different administrative boards, committee or interests over 40 odd years that attempted to establish the game of rugby league in South Africa. Neither, certainly the earlier attempts where very successful.
The first attempted expansion of the code into South Africa was primarily put together by the English and encouraged by the French for the purpose of expanding the game into new nations, that would inevitably bring more tests to the English and French shores, ensuring a lucrative future. At least, that was the plan; however it was not to be, the South African public did not take to the sport and the expansion plans where stopped prematurely causing a 3rd scheduled match in London to not be played.
The second attempted expansion was a strange double act in the 1960s consisting of two separate factions, known as the National Rugby League and South African Rugby League. Each fought for their own survival until the RLIF laid down the law that saw the NRL effectively shut down and its clubs moved to the SARL. All was looking good for SARL until a South African representative team toured Australia and where embarrassingly beaten, enough to discourage South African fans from supporting their national team and thus it never caught on.
The 1990s brought forth a more committed band of entrepreneurs and men who had rugby league flowing through their veins. Their passion ensured that the game would live on and the foundation left by the 1990s administration still lives on today, all be it, a former shadow of its self.
[edit] Competition
[edit] Tom van Vollenhoven Cup
The Tom van Vollenhoven cup is South African league's premier competition. The current 2005/06 competion consists of four teams: Eastern Eagles, Northern Bulls, Mpumalanga Panthers, Vaal Buffaloes.
In addition there are three emerging teams who aim to enter the Tom van Vollenhoven Cup for the next season. They are Drakensberg Wings, Central Manes, KZN Tigersharks. These teams currently play non-competition games.
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