Pumas (rugby team)
- Los Pumas is also the traditional nickname of the Argentina national rugby union team.
The Ford Pumas are a South African rugby union team that competes in the First Division of the 2012 Currie Cup. The team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province (formerly known as the South Eastern Transvaal) and currently plays at both the Puma Stadium (also known as Johann van Riebeeck Stadium) in Witbank and the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, although the intention is to entirely relocate to Nelspruit in 2013.
The Pumas won the Currie Cup First Division (the second tier competition) in 2005 and 2009, so earning promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2006 they were coached jointly by Chris Grobler and Danie Gerber, but failed to win any of their 14 matches.[1]
For their 2010 Currie Cup campaign the Pumas appointed the seasoned Jimmy Stonehouse as coach. [1] Though considered the underdogs of the Currie Cup competition, on 27 August 2010 the Pumas beat current champions the Blue Bulls 22-21 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. [2] [3] With 11 rounds of the Currie Cup complete, the Pumas were lodged second last on log, having scored two wins over last-placed Platinum Leopards. [4]
Formed in 1969 as South Eastern Transvaal, the Pumas are one of the younger unions in the country. The team has never won the Currie Cup.
The Pumas average crowds of 13,000 to home Currie Cup matches.
Current 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
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| First Division Teams 2012 |
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| Premier Seasons |
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| First Div Seasons |
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| Governing body |
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