Leopards (rugby team)

Leopards
Full name North West Leopards
Union Leopards Rugby Union
Emblem(s) Leopard
Founded 1920
Region North West Province
Ground(s) Olën Park, Potchefstroom (Capacity: 22,000)
Coach(es) Robert du Preez
(Currie Cup)
Chaka Willemse
(Vodacom Cup)
League(s) Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup
2014 Currie Cup First Division 1st
(Losing semi-finalists)
Official website
www.leopardsrugby.com
Current season

The Leopards are 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]

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 the 29 April 2010 and was re-elected unopposed for a third two year term during November 2013. May is a former player of Western Transvaal with 75 matches for the Union. The CEO is Louis du Plessis who replaced Eugene Hare, who is also the most capped player in the history of the Union.

The Leopards also known as the Luiperds in Afrikaans are 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. They draw their fans from across the North West Province and average crowds of 5,000 to home Currie Cup fixtures. Their traditional rivals include the Blue Bulls, the Golden Lions and the Pumas.

Current squad

Vodacom Cup team

The following players were named in the Leopards' squad for the 2015 Vodacom Cup:[3]

Props

Hookers

Locks

  • South Africa Molotsi Bouwer
  • South Africa Danie Jordaan
  • South Africa Stairs Mhlongo
  • South Africa Pikkie Nortjé
  • South Africa Siya November
  • South Africa Francois Robertse
  • South Africa Stian van Blerk
  

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

  • South Africa Tiaan Dorfling
  • South Africa Elof Scheepers
  • South Africa Chriswill September
  • South Africa Dillon Smit
  • South Africa Malherbe Swart
  • South Africa Ruan van Rensburg
  • South Africa Percy Williams

Fly-halves

  • South Africa Warren Gilbert
  • South Africa Schalk Hugo
  • South Africa Henko Marais
  • South Africa Reohn van Zyl
  

Centres

Wingers

  • South Africa Rowayne Beukman
  • South Africa Arthur Festus
  • South Africa Jaco Hayward
  • South Africa Adri Jacobs
  • South Africa Alvino Montjies
  • South Africa Hagen Mumba
  • South Africa Adriaan Oosthuizen
  • South Africa SW Oosthuizen

Fullbacks

  • South Africa Myburgh Briers
  • South Africa Kobus du Plessis

References

  1. ↑ "Leopards". sarugby.net. 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. ↑ "2015 Leopards XV Vodacom Cup season". Retrieved 18 March 2015.

External links