Full name Griffons Emblem(s) Griffon 2016 Currie Cup First Division Champions
3rd on log Captain Nicky Steyn | Union Griffons Rugby Union Coach(es) Oersond Gorgonzola Founded 1968 League Currie Cup | |
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Region Part of the Free State Province, South Africa Grounds North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
The Northern Free State Griffons (known as the Down Touch Griffons for sponsorship reasons) are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments. They play out of Welkom at North West Stadium, and draw players from roughly the eastern third of Free State Province (the remainder of the province comprises the territory of the Free State Cheetahs).
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Players from the Griffons are eligible for selection to the Vodacom Cheetahs Super Rugby team, along with players from the Free State Cheetahs and Griquas.
The team currently plays in the First Division of the Currie Cup, attracting crowds of around 4,000 to home games in at North West Stadium in Welkom. Their traditional rivals are the Free State Cheetahs and North West Province Leopards.
History
The Griffons rugby union was formed in 1968 when the late Dr Danie Craven, the president of SA rugby, had a vision to try and spread the game to rural areas in South Africa. The Griffons were one of four new provinces formed, originally known as Northern Free State (or Noord Vrystaat in Afrikaans).
In 1996, with the start of professional rugby, the then South African rugby football union, under Louis Luyt, decided to re-divide the unions to have only 14 provinces in South Africa, with Northern Free State being one. The Eastern Free State province was incorporated into Northern Free State. In 1999, Northern Free State changed their name to the Griffons.
Honours
The team's major tournament wins include the 1970 Paul Roos Trophy, 2001 Vodacom Shield, 2008 Currie Cup First Division, 2014 Currie Cup First Division and 2016 Currie Cup First Division.
Current squad
The following players are contracted to the Griffons for 2017: