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)	Jonathan Mokuena
Captain(s)	Juan Language
League(s)	Currie Cup
2015 Currie Cup First Division	1st on log (Champions)
Team kit
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]

History

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 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.

Honours

The team's major tournament wins include the 2015 Currie Cup First Division.

Current squad

The following players were included in the Leopards squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series:^[3]

Leopards Currie Cup qualification squad
Props Roan Grobbelaar Bart le Roux Mogau Mabokela Mash Mafela Tshego Moloto Lucky Ngcamu Bhekisa Shongwe Joe Smith Hookers Wilmar Arnoldi Wian Fourie Louis van der Westhuizen Dane van der Westhuyzen Locks Danie Jordaan Tiaan Liebenberg Stairs Mhlongo Francois Robertse Walt Steenkamp Ruan Venter	Loose Forwards Molotsi Bouwer Leon du Plessis Jaco Jordaan Juan Language Loftus Morrison Marno Redelinghuys Jeandré Rudolph HP Swart Scrum-halves Chriswill September Malherbe Swart Percy Williams Fly-halves Schalk Hugo Benhard Janse van Rensburg Johnny Welthagen Gene Willemse	Centres Wesley Cupido Johan Deysel Jaco Hayward Bradley Moolman Akhona Nela Adrian Vermeulen Wingers Rowayne Beukman Lucian Cupido Arthur Festus Dalen Goliath Dean Stokes Fullbacks Myburgh Briers Rhyno Smith
(c) denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped.

References

1. "Leopards". sarugby.net. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. 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. "2016 Leopards Currie Cup season". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.

External links

• Official site