Full name North West Leopards Emblem(s) Leopard Captain(s) Jeandré Rudolph Founded 1920 Grounds Olën Park, Potchefstroom | Union Leopards Rugby Union Region North West Province 2016 Currie Cup First Division Runners-up
1st on log League Currie Cup | |
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Coach Robert du Preez (Head coach) | ||
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.
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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. 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 are contracted to the Leopards for 2017: