Full name Pumas Emblem(s) Puma 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division 8th Captain Hugo Kloppers Founded 1969 | Union Mpumalanga Rugby Union Region Mpumalanga Province Arena/Stadium Mbombela Stadium League Currie Cup | |
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Ground(s) Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (Capacity: 40,929) Coach Jimmy Stonehouse (Head coach) | ||
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.
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The Pumas are a well supported team throughout Mpumalanga 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. They eventually finished 7th.
Honours
The team's major tournament wins include the Currie Cup First Division in 2005, 2009 and 2013 and the Vodacom Cup in 2015.
Current squad
The following players are contracted to the Pumas for 2017:
