Pumas (rugby team)
 | |
| Full name | Pumas |
|---|---|
| Union | Mpumalanga Rugby Union |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Region | Mpumalanga Province |
| Ground(s) | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (Capacity: 40,929) |
| Coach(es) | Jimmy Stonehouse |
| Captain(s) | Corné Steenkamp |
| League(s) | Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup |
| 2013 Currie Cup First Division |
1st Champions |
| Official website | |
| www.pumas.co.za | |
 Current season | |
The Pumas (currently known as the Steval Pumas for sponsorship reasons) are a South African rugby union team that competes in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup and the Northern Section of the Vodacom Cup. The team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province (formerly known as the South Eastern Transvaal) and plays at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, having previously also played at the Puma Stadium in Witbank.
The Pumas are a well supported team throughout Mpumulanga Province, with large fan bases located in Witbank, Middelburg, Ermelo and Nelspruit. The Pumas average crowds of 13,000 at home Currie Cup matches.
History
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.
In 2006, they were coached jointly by Chris Grobler and Danie Gerber, but failed to win any of their 14 matches, finishing last on the log.
They won the Currie Cup First Division (the second tier competition) in 2005 and 2009, both times earning promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division.
For their 2010 Currie Cup campaign, the Pumas appointed the seasoned Jimmy Stonehouse as coach. 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.[1] They eventually finished 7th.
Current squad
Currie Cup squad
The Pumas squad for the 2013 Currie Cup First Division:[2]
|
Props Hookers Locks |
Loose Forwards Scrum-halves Fly-halves |
Centres Wingers Fullbacks |
1 Carl Bezuidenhout is on an extended trial with Edinburgh.[3]
2 Rosco Speckman is included in the S.A. Sevens squad for the 2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series.[4]
Denotes team captain, 
Denotes that a player is unavailable indefinitely due to injury
In for 2014
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Out for 2014
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References
- ↑ "Pumas shock Blue Bulls in Nelspruit". Planet Rugby. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ↑ "2013 Pumas Currie Cup season". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- ↑ "Edinburgh lures another SA star". Rugby365. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ↑ "Experienced Springbok Sevens side to defend USA title". South African Rugby Union. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Steval Pumas new signings for 2014". Rugby15. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ↑ "Van Staden vervang Bezuidenhout" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ↑ "Griekwas teken nog spelers" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby.com. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Pumas katrol twee Bulldogs in vir 2014". Media24. Beeld. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ↑ "Cheetahs sign Shaun Venter". Media24. Sport24. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
External links
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