The Cats are a South African Rugby Union team competing in the Super 14 competition. They are based in Johannesburg, and have always been centred around the Lions (Johannesburg) union, drawing players from that union since the inception of the competition as Super 12 in 1996. Currently, they also draw players from the Leopards (North West Province) and Pumas (Mpumalanga Province) unions. Through 2005, the Cats drew from the two unions based in Free State Province—the Free State Cheetahs (Bloemfontein) and Griffons (Welkom)—and the Griquas (Northern Cape Province), but that arrangement ended when the Central Cheetahs became South Africa's new Super 14 franchise. The Cheetahs will draw their players from Free State, Griffons and Griquas, while the Leopards and Pumas were moved from the franchise area of the Bulls to that of the Cats. Prior to 1998, the Cats (more accurately, the Golden Lions) competed in the then-Super 12 as Transvaal, as South Africa then sent its top four unions to the Super 12 instead of franchises, and Transvaal qualified both years.

They have not achieved great success in the Super 12 competition, finishing on the bottom of the table three times, with their best performances being in 2000 and 2001, when they reached the semi-finals.

The current team captain is flank Wikus Van Heerden

Super Rugby positions

External links

• Official site
• Datas et Statistics itsrugby.com

Super 14 teams | South African rugby union teams | Sport in Johannesburg

Cats (rugby club)