Leopards (rugby team)

The Leopards are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament, currently playing in the First Division. They play out of Potchefstroom at Olën Park. They draw all their players from the North West Province.

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 franchise in South Africa, after securing sponsorship from Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings in October 2007.^[1]

Andre May was elected as the new president of the Union on the 29 April 2010 and was re-elected for a second two year term on 17 November 2011. May is a former player of Western Transvaal as is the CEO, Eugene Hare, who is also the most capped player in the history of the Union.

The North West Leopards, previously known as Western Transvaal, average crowds of 11,000 at home Currie Cup games in Potchefstroom and Rustenburg. Their traditional rivals are the Blue Bulls. Other local rivals include the Golden Lions, the Pumas, the Griffons and the Falcons.

2011 Currie Cup Squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

References

External links

• sport.iafrica.com profile