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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 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. In their first year of existence, the British Lions were carrying out a South Africa tour, and played Northern Transvaal on July 13 that year. The Lions won by eight points, defeating Northern Transvaal 20 to 12. 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. Three years later, the Northern Transvaal played the All Blacks whilst they were on tour, and lost by only three points, with the final score being six to three to the New Zealanders.
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. The British Lions came to South Africa the following season, and played Northern Transvaal in Pretoria, winning 14 to 11. In 1960, Northern Transvaal played the All Blacks for the second time, though the score was not as close this time around, with the All Blacks winning 27 to three. They played the British Lions again in 1962 and won, 14 points to six, though it would not be until the 1968 season that they would feature in anothe Currie Cup final, were they met Transvaal, defeating them 16 to three at home. Ten of the players from the 1968 side went onto become Springboks and some consider this team to be one of the greatest Northern Transvaal sides ever. 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. Also that year the team played the All Blacks, and led them nine points to six at half time, though the All Blacks fought back to eventually wn 19 to 15. 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 appearances, 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 from 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. On August 21, 1976, 65,000 people packed into Loftus to watch the All Blacks take on Northern Transvaal, which was actually the 700th All Black game. Like their previous encounter, the All Blacks had found themselves behind at half-time - by 13 points. New Zealand fought back, though Northern Transvaal held on to the match, and won, 29 to 27. Northern Transvaal proceeded with 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 successful 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.
When rugby union went professional, the Super 12 competition was born, a provincial contest between teams from Australia and New Zealand as well as South Africa. Whilst Australia and New Zealand started new franchises for competition, the South African teams for the first season were selected upon the basis of the 1995 Currie Cup standings, which saw Northern Transvaal, along with Transvaal, Western Province and Natal all enter the new competition in 1996. Northern Transvaal did quite well - winning eight of their 11 fixtures, which saw them finish third on the ladder after the regular season, and thus qualif for the semi-finals. They however went down to the Auckland Blues in the semi, that took place at Eden Park. The team participated in the 1997 season as well, though their performance was not as good as that of 1996's, as the team won only three games and finished in eighth position. In 1997, Northern Transvaal defeated the British Lions on their tour of South Africa. 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.
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 and is considered one of the biggest sporing rivalries in South Africa. 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.
Location
The home ground of the Blue Bulls is the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, which was first used for sports in 1906, ans rugby in 1908, when the site 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. Loftus is viewed by some to be somewhat of a fortress for the Blue Bulls, as they have an impressive record at the stadium. The stadium is expected to receive minor upgrades in the near future as it will be hosting matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
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 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.
Current squad
Finals results
Currie Cup
Notes
2 Transvaal were renamed the Golden Lions.
3 Orange Free State were renamed the Free State Cheetahs.
Notable players
100 matches or more
| Name | Position | Total number of app. |
|---|---|---|
| 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 app. |
|---|---|---|
| Willie Kaths | Hooker | 110 |
| Mof Myburgh | Prop | 109 |
| Frik du Preez | Flanker/lock | 109 |
| Johan Heunis | Full back | 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 |
| Pierre Spies | 1985 |
Records and statistics
A number of records were broken in a 1996 Currie Cup match against the South Western Districts, which the Blue Bulls won, with the final score being 147 points to eight. This records stands as both the largest victory and highest score for the Blue Bulls. Also in that match, the record for the number of tries scored in a match was set, at 23, along with an individual record for the most tries in a match, seven, by Jacques Olivier. That 1996 season ended up being the highest scoring Currie Cup season for the Blue Bulls, standing at 1193 points, over 28 matches. The most career appearances by a player for the Blue Bulls, is 184, which was set by Burger Geldenhuys, who played for the team from 1977 to 1989.
References
External links
"Blue Bulls"