Blue Bulls

Blue Bulls

File:BlueBullsLogo.gif
Bull
Club information
Full name	Blue Bulls
Colours	Blue
Founded	1938
Website	bluebulls.co.za
Current details
Ground(s)	Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Competition	Currie Cup

The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Blue Bulls, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province.

From their first year of existence Northern Transvaal were a formidable force in South African rugby, with many Springboks rising through their ranks. During World War II there was no local rugby competitions and they first lifted the Currie Cup only in 1946. Eventually the side was nickamed the Blue Bulls, a name that has stuck with them ever since.

In later years, because of political changes in South Africa, many of the provinces in the country were renamed. As the result the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union became the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, and Northern Transvaal became known only by their original nickname: the Blue Bulls. When Vodacom became the team's biggest sponsor their name was also added: previously the side was sponsored by ExxonMobil and known as the Mobil Blue Bulls.

History

The team as we know it today has its beginnings in 1938 when the then Northern Transvaal Rugby Union broke away from the Transvaal Rugby Football Union to gain status as an independent rugby union. The new team were simply named Northern Transvaal and donned light blue jerseys with a red Barberton daisy emblem. From their first year of existence Northern Transvaal were a formidable force in South African rugby, with many Springboks rising through their ranks. During World War II there was no local rugby competitions and they first lifted the Currie Cup only in 1946, when they beat the Western Province 11 points to nine at home at Loftus Versfeld. Six members of the 1946 side would go onto become Springboks; Hannes Brewis, Fonnie du Toit, Jorrie Jordaan, Flip Geel, Fiks van der Merwe, Louis Strydom and Daan Retief.

Northern Transvaal next appeared in the Currie Cup final for the 1954 season, again meeting rivals Western Provine, though unlike their previous encounter of 1946, the Western Province won the match, 11 to eight, which was played at Newlands. Northern Transvaal made it to the final of the Currie Cup again, less than two seasons following their 1954 defeat, meeting the Natal Sharks at Kings Park Stadium in Durban, which Northern Transvaal won by just one point, with the final score being nine to eight, which saw the Northern Transvaal capture their second Currie Cup title. Northern Transvaal would not feature in another Currie Cup final for over a decade, until the 1968 season, were they met Transvaal, defeating them 16 to three at home. Ten of the players from the 1968 side went onto become Springboks. Northern Transvaal did not slow down the following season either, beating the Western Province 28 to 13 in the subsequent season's final. The two Currie Cup wins of the late 1960s led the way for a golden era of Northern Transvaal rugby.

After the 1969 win over rivals Western Province, the Northern Transvaal went onto to feature in a third successive Currie Cup final, though they were not as successful as they were in 1968 and 69, going down to Griqualand West 11 points to nine in the 1970 season decider. Though they did not win the title, Northern Transvaal made it to the final of the 1971 Currie Cup, going undefeated throughout the season, though they did not win the match, instead, drawing it, 14 points all at Ellis Park. After four consecutive Currie Cup finals apperances, the streak ended in the 1972 season. However, the following season, 1973, Northern Transvaal were back in the picture, and defeated the Orange Free State 30 points to 22. This was the first of five Currie Cup wins out of six seasons; the 1973 win was followed by the 17 to 15 win over Transvaal in 1974; the 12 to six win over the Orange Free State, as well as the two subsequent Currrie Cup final victories, both over the Orange Free State, in 1977 and 1978. Northern Transvaal ensured that the only finals they did not contest in the 1970s were in 1972 and 1975, by making it to the 1979 final, though they were defeated by old rivals, the Western Province.

The 1980s, was arguably just as succesful for Northern Transvaal as 1970s was for the team. The decade kicked off with a 1980 Currie Cup title; with Northern Transvaal, led by Naas Botha, defeated the Western Province by thirty points in front of a home crowd. They defeated the Orange Free State the following year to claim the 1981 season as well. Northern Transvaal featured in the 1982,84 and 85, going down to the Western Province on all occasions. However after three final defeats, Northern Transvaal backed up with three final victories to see out the 1980s, defeating Transvaal in the 1987 final, and then beating the Western Province in the 1988 and 1989 finals. The 1990s saw a successful start for Northern Transvaal, making it to the final of the 1990 season to defend their Currie Cup title. They however went down to the Sharks 18 points to 12. The two sides faced off again in the following season decider, which saw Northern Transvaal come out on top, winning 27 to 15. Northern Transvaal, or the Blue Bulls made only one other apperace during the 1990s, at the 1998 Currie Cup final, where they, thought to be underdogs, defeated the Western Province 24 to 20 at home.

The next time the Blue Bulls would be contesting a Currie Cup final would be in 2002, where they defeated the Golden Lions 31 to seven at Ellis Park. They backed this up the following season, defeating the Natal Sharks 40 to 19 in the final. The Blue Bulls made it three titles in a row following their 200 victory over the Free State Cheetahs in the final. The Blue Bulls, on their way to five titles in a row, were stopped by the Free State Cheetahs in 2005, who won 42 to 33. After round two of the 2006 Currie Cup, coach Heyneke Meyer will be stepping down following the match against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park. It was confirmed prior to round two, and said that Meye wishes to focus more on the Super 14. Pote Human will then takeover, being one of Meyer's assistants as well as a former Eastern Province and Free State loose forward.

Location

The Blue Bulls represent the Limpopo province, the northernmost province in South Africa, as well as part of the Gauteng province, drawing all their players from these two areas. The Blue Bulls play all of their home matches in Pretoria, in Gauteng. The number of players that have gone on to represent the national team, the Springboks, has led to the nickname, the Blue Bulls Bok factory, in reference to the quality of players that have been produced from within the represented areas.

Stadium

Main article: Loftus Versfeld Stadium

The home ground of the Blue Bulls is the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, which was first ysed for sports in 1906, when the side was known as the Eastern Sports Ground. The stadium was later renamed after Mr Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, the founder of organised sports in Pretoria, and dedicated many years of his life to rugby union. The stadium at its current configuration has a 50,000 all-seater capacity, and is shared with the Bulls. The stadium is expected to receive minor upgrades in the near future as it will be hosting matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Rivalry with Western Province

Through the years the rivalry between the Blue Bulls and Western Province has become legendary, and a clash between these two sides is always a showcase event in the tournament. The first time that the two sides met in an actual Currie Cup final was in 1946, which was also, Northern Transvaal's first final contest. The match was played at Northern Transvaal's home ground at Loftus Versfeld, and saw the Western Province go down 11 to nine. After meeting in numerous other finals following 1946, it would not be until the 1979 season, when the Western Province would defeat Northern Transvaal in a Currie Cup final. Northern Transvaal then defeated them in the subsequent final. In the 1980s the two sides met in five Currie Cup finals, with the Western Provinve winning three of them. The most recent Currie Cup season when the two sides both made it to the final was that of the 1998 season, when the Blue Bulls won by four points, winning 24 to 20 at Loftus Versfeld.

Finals results

Currie Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runner-up	Venue
1946	Northern Transvaal	11 - 9	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1954	Western Province	11 - 8	Northern Transvaal	Newlands, Capetown
1956	Northern Transvaal	9 - 8	Natal Sharks	King's Park, Durban
1968	Northern Transvaal	16 - 3	Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1969	Northern Transvaal	28 - 13	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1970	Griqualand West	11 - 9	Northern Transvaal	De Beers, Kimberley
1971	Transvaal	14 - 14	Northern Transvaal	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1973	Northern Transvaal	30 - 22	Orange Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1974	Northern Transvaal	17 - 15	Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1975	Northern Transvaal	12 - 6	Orange Free State	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1977	Northern Transvaal	27 - 12	Orange Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1978	Northern Transvaal	13 - 9	Orange Free State	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1979	Western Province	15 - 15	Northern Transvaal	Newlands, Cape Town
1980	Northern Transvaal	39 - 9	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1981	Northern Transvaal	23 - 6	Orange Free State	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1982	Western Province	24 - 7	Northern Transvaal	Newlands, Cape Town
1984	Western Province	19 - 9	Northern Transvaal	Newlands, Cape Town
1985	Western Province	22 - 15	Northern Transvaal	Newlands, Cape Town
1987	Northern Transvaal	24 - 18	Transvaal	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1988	Northern Transvaal	19 - 18	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1989	Northern Transvaal	16 - 16	Western Province	Newlands, Cape Town
1990	Natal Sharks	18 - 12	Northern Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1991	Northern Transvaal	27 - 15	Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1998	Blue Bulls1	24 - 20	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2002	Blue Bulls	31 - 7	Golden Lions2	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
2003	Blue Bulls	40 - 19	Natal Sharks	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2004	Blue Bulls	42 - 33	Free State Cheetahs3	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005	Free State Cheetahs	29 - 25	Blue Bulls	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Notes

¹ Northern Transvaal were renamed the Blue Bulls.
² Transvaal were renamed the Golden Lions.
³ Orange Free State were renamed the Free State Cheetahs.

Notable players

100 caps or more

Name Position Total number of caps Naas Botha Fly-half 179 Louis Moolman Lock 171 Thys Lourens Flanker 168 Adolf Malan Lock 159 Deon Oosthuysen Wing 140 Adrian Richter Number 8 137 Jacques Olivier Wing 137 Uli Schmidt Hooker 136 Joost van der Westhuizen Scrum-half 133 Tommy du Plessis Scrum-half 126 Heinrich Rodgers Prop 116

Name Position Total number of caps Willie Kaths Hooker 110 Mof Myburgh Prop 109 Frik du Preez Flanker/lock 109 Johan Heunis Fullback 109 Gerbrand Grobler Fullback 108 Lourens Camphor Prop 107 Jan Lock Prop 106 Pote Fourie Loose forward 105 FA Meiring Centre/wing 105 Jannie Claassens Centre 102 Johan Lamprecht Loose forward 101

Springboks

Name Year of birth Ferdie Bergh 1906 Lukas Strachan 1907 Danie Craven 1910 Ben du Toit 1912 Roger Sherriff 1913 Fiks van der Merwe 1917 Fonnie du Toit 1920 Hansie Brewis 1920 Jorrie Jordaan 1920 Louis Strydom 1921 Willem Barnard 1923 Jaap Bekker 1925 Daan Retief 1925 Salty du Rand 1926 Dolf Bekker 1926 Ernst Dinkelman 1927 Martiens Bekker 1930 Tom van Vollenhoven 1935 Poens Prinsloo 1935 Frik du Preez 1935 Louis Schmidt 1936 Robert Twigge 1936 Mof Myburgh 1936 Stompie van der Merwe 1936 Chris Bezuidenhout 1937 Piet Uys 1937 Corra Dirksen 1938 Mannetjies Roux 1939 Gys Pitzer 1939 Albie Bates 1941

Name Year of birth Thys Lourens 1943 Piston van Wyk 1943 Johan Spies 1945 John Williams 1946 Willem Stapelberg 1947 Willie Kahts 1947 Tonie Roux 1947 Piet du Plessis 1947 Daan du Plessis 1948 Niek Bezuidenhout 1950 Louis Moolman 1951 Moaner van Heerden 1951 Christo Wagenaar 1952 Pierre Edwards 1953 Tommy du Plessis 1953 Ewoud Malan 1953 Thys Burger 1954 Ockie Oosthuizen 1955 Theuns Stofberg 1955 Darius Botha 1955 Burger Geldenhuys 1956 Ray Mordt 1957 Johan Heunis 1958 Naas Botha 1958 Frans Erasmus 1959 Uli Schmidt 1961 Adolf Malan 1961 Willie Hills 1962 Heinrich Rodgers 1962 Adriaan Richter 1966

Name Year of birth Henry Tromp 1966 Drikus Hattingh 1968 Jacques Oliver 1968 Ruben Kruger 1970 Johan Ackerman 1970 Marius Hurter 1970 Joost van der Westhuizen 1971 Krynauw Otto 1971 Schutte Bekker 1971 Franco Smith 1972 André Snyman 1974 Richard Bands 1974 Danie van Schalkwyk 1975 Norman Jordaan 1975 Wessel Roux 1975 Victor Matfield 1977 Danie Coetzee 1977 Jaco van der Westhuyzen 1978 Danie Rossouw 1978 Bakkies Botha 1979 Geo Cronje 1980 Pedrie Wannenburg 1981 Gary Botha 1981 Fourie du Preez 1982 Jacques Cronje 1982 Derick Hougaard 1983 Bryan Habana 1983 Wynand Olivier 1983

Records and statistics

Match

• Biggest victory
  • 147-8 (vs. SSWD, 1996)
• Heaviest defeat
  • 13-57 (vs Transvaal, 1994)
• Highest score
  • 147 (vs. South Western Districts, 1996)
• Most points conceded
  • 64 (vs. Wellington Hurricanes, 1997)
• Most tries
  • 23 (vs. South Western Districts, 1996)
• Most points by a player
  • 40 (Casper Steyn vs SWD Eagles, 2000)
• Most tries by a player
  • 7 (Jacques Olivier vs SWD, 1996)
• Most conversions by a player
  • 14 (Lance Sherrell vs SWD, 1996)
• Most penalties by a player
  • 9 (Jannie Kruger vs WP, 1996)
• *9 (Derick Hougaard vs WP, 2002)
• Most drop goals by a player
  • 5 (Naas Botha vs Natal, 1992)

Season

• Most points
  • 1193 (in 28 matches, 1996)
• Most Currie Cup points
  • 783 (in 13 matches, 1997)
• Most points by a player
  • 361 (Casper Steyn, 1999)
• Most Currie Cup points by a player
  • 268 (Johan Heunis, 1989)
• Most tries
  • 140 (in 28 matches, 2003)
• Most tries by a player
  • 25 (Pierre Spies, 1975)
• Most Currie Cup tries by a player
  • 18 (Ettienne Botha 2004)

Career

• Most appearances
  • 184 (Burger Geldenhuys, 1977-1989)

External links

• Official website
• Fan site