Bulls (rugby franchise)
Encyclopedia
The Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom
Vodacom
Vodacom is a pan-African mobile telecommunications company, and was the 1st cellular network in South Africa. It provides GSM service to more than 35 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2008...

 Bulls
, are a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 team competing in the Super Rugby competition. They are based in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...

 and play their home matches at Loftus Versfeld
Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Loftus Versfeld Stadium is a rugby and association football stadium situated in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The stadium has a capacity of 51,762 for rugby union and hosted the 2009 Currie Cup final...

. Prior to 1998, the Bulls competed in the then-Super 12 as the Blue Bulls, as in those years South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by its top four Currie Cup unions instead of franchises.
The current team captain is lock Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...

.They also won the 2010 Super 14 which was the last of that particular competition because the competition will be upgraded to Super Rugby in 2011. They have won three super titles and is among the most successful teams in the super rugby history with three titles , a feat they share with the Auckland blues of New Zealand. They are widely regarded as the most successful super 14 team in its history with three out of the five titles being won by them.

History

Prior to the professional Super rugby leagues, Northern Transvaal (Blue Bulls) competed in the Super 10
Super 10 (Southern Hemisphere competition)
The Super 10 was a rugby union tournament featuring ten teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa, which ran for three years from 1993 to 1995...

, which was a tournament featuring ten teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa, which ran from 1993 to 1995. The top three teams from the previous Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...

 tournament qualified for the Super 10 series.

Northern Transvaal competed in the 1993 season, where they were grouped in Pool B alongside Transvaal, New South Wales, North Harbour and Waikato. Transvaal finished at the top of the pool, with Northern Transvaal finishing third, behind New South Wales. They were not represented in the 1994 or 1995 season.

After rugby union went professional, the Super 10 tournament was restructured. The Super 12 was created, and was to be competed by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Both Australia and New Zealand adopted new franchise models for their teams, whereas South Africa chose to use the Currie Cup to decide what teams were to be promoted in the Super 12 each season.

Competing in the inaugural Super 12 season of 1996
1996 Super 12 season
The 1996 Super 12 season was the inaugural season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 1996, with each team playing all the others once...

, Northern Transvaal were one of the 12 teams. The side won eight of their 11 games and finished third on the table – behind only Auckland and Queensland. Jannie Kruger finished the season in the top three leading point-scorers, behind only Matthew Burke and John Eales
John Eales
John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:...

. The side was however soundly defeated in a semi-final by the Auckland Blues, with the final score being 48 points to 11. The game was played at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...

 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

.

After their fairly successful performance in the opening competition, the subsequent competition of 1997 saw them with three wins and three draws from 11 games. They finished at eighth. Following the 1997 season, South Africa adopted a similar franchise system to that of Australia and New Zealand's, abolishing the Currie Cup promotion system in favour of creating new franchises. The Bulls were formed as one of the four new teams. They did not make the semis in the 1998 season
1998 Super 12 season
The 1998 Super 12 season was the third season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 1998, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

.The Bulls were considered one of the worst teams in the Super 14 competition, finishing last or second to last for five consecutive seasons from 1998–2003. In 2002
2002 Super 12 season
The 2002 Super 12 season was the seventh season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2002, with each team playing all the others once...

, they became the first team ever to go through an entire Super Rugby season without winning a single game. This record remained until the Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...

 repeated the feat during the 2010 season
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...

. After finishing fourth in the inaugural competition, they didn't make the semis again until the years 2003.

The Bulls finished in 6th place in both 2003 and 2004, though still missing out on a finals position. They equalled there 1996 performance in 2005
2005 Super 12 season
The 2005 Super 12 season was the tenth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2005, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

, although there was a very poor start to the season, it was followed by six straight wins to earn them a semi-final berth, where they were defeated by the New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...

. Bryan Habana
Bryan Habana
Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...

 finished in the top three try-scorers by the end of the season, and was short-listed for IRB player of the year.
In 2006
2006 Super 14 season
The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday 10 February 2006. The Grand Final was held on Saturday 27 May 2006. Super 14 is a provincial rugby union competition with 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the...

, the Super 12 became the Super 14, with the addition of two new franchises, the Central Cheetahs
Central Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...

 and the Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...

. By the last round of the 2006 season, the Bulls, along with the Brumbies
Brumbies Rugby
The Brumbies are a Super 15 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberra's hinterland...

 and Sharks were all in contention to take the fourth and final position on the ladder to make the semi-finals. After the Brumbies were defeated 33 to 3 by the Crusaders, the Bulls or Sharks could mathematically take the fourth spot. The Bulls defeated the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...

 at Newlands
Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium, currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons, is located in Cape Town, South Africa.The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people, but is not an all seater venue....

 in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

 43 points to 10, which ensured they went through to the semi-finals. The Bulls travelled to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...

 where they were defeated 35 to 15 at Jade Stadium
Jade Stadium
Lancaster Park, formerly Jade Stadium and currently known as AMI Stadium through sponsorship rights, is a sports stadium situated in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand....

 and knocked out of the finals.

The Bulls lost their first game of the 2007 Super 14 season
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...

, going down to the Sharks in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...

 17 points to 3, though the next week they posted their first win of the season, defeating the Central Cheetahs at home in Pretoria. Entering week 14, the last round of the regular season, the Bulls were chasing an unlikely 72-point win over the Queensland Reds in order to move into second place and get a home semi-final. At Loftus, the Bulls defeated the Reds 92 points to 3, with the 89-point margin of victory setting a new Super rugby record. The Bulls ran in 13 tries with four players getting doubles and Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...

 kicking 11 conversions. The Sharks finished first, so it became the first time that both home venues in the semi-finals was in South Africa.

The Bulls defeated the Crusaders in their semi-final by 27 points to 12, with Derick Hougaard kicking eight penalties and a drop-goal. The Sharks ensured a home-final in the 2007 Super 14-competition by defeating the Blues with a scoreline of 34–18.

When the Bulls met the Sharks in the Super 14 final at the Absa Stadium in Durban the match turned out to be a tight, nervous affair with the Bulls initially being guilty of indiscipline and making a lot of mistakes. The Sharks carried a 14–10 advantage into half-time after a JP Pietersen
JP Pietersen
Jon-Paul Roger "JP" Pietersen is a South African rugby union footballer. He generally plays fullback or wing for the Sharks and the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup...

 try cancelled out one from Pierre Spies
Pierre Spies
Pierre Johan Spies is a South African rugby union player. His usual position is number 8 , where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. He has represented the Springboks since 2006.He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas...

. The second half of the match was just as nail-biting, with the Bulls gaining the ascendancy in the match, but failing to turn their rising amount of possession into points. A Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...

 penalty closed the gap to 14–13, after which the Bulls made several onslaughts on the Sharks line, only to lose the ball at critical stages. Their match looked to be all but over for the Bulls when Albert van den Berg
Albert van den Berg
Albert van den Berg is a South African rugby union rugby player. In 2010, he signed to play in Japan's Top League for Canon Eagles. His usual position is at lock. He played for the Sharks in the international Super 14 competition...

 barged over the line for a Sharks try two minutes from full time to stretch their lead to six points. However, Francois Steyn
François Steyn
Francois Steyn is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the South African national team; and Racing Métro 92 in Paris. He was a member of the South African team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup...

 failed with the conversion attempt, and the Bulls restarted with barely seconds on the clock. After regaining the ball from the kick-off, play went through several phases before Bryan Habana
Bryan Habana
Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...

 received the ball on the right wing. He cut infield and scored the most dramatic of match winning tries, more than a minute after official play. The try was converted by Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...

 and the Bulls won the match by 20 points to 19. In 2009 the Bulls again won the super 14, defeating the Chiefs 61 – 17 in the final in Pretoria.

Home grounds

The Bulls play all their home matches at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...

, which is also the home of the Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...

 during the Currie Cup season. The stadium is also a regular host for Springbok Test matches, and was a venue during the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....

 which South Africa hosted. Loftus was a venue for Pool D matches including France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...

 v Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...

, Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...

 v Tonga and France v Scotland. Loftus was also used twice during the finals stages – for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....

 v Scotland quarter-final and the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...

 v France third place play-off.

The ground has been used for rugby since 1908, and in 1932 the stadium was renamed to Loftus Versfeld in honor of Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, the founder of organized rugby in Pretoria. The stadium has undergone numerous renovations over the years, with some taking place during the 1970s. The stadium is capable of holding 51,762 spectators.

Franchise area

The team is centred around the Blue Bulls union
Blue Bulls Rugby Union
The Blue Bulls Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Pretoria, South Africa, two neighboring municipalities in Gauteng Province, and all of Limpopo Province. Its main representative team, known in South Africa by its sponsorship name of Vodacom Blue Bulls , competes in South Africa's...

 (Pretoria plus Limpopo Province), but also draws players from the Falcons (representing the East Rand). Through 2005, the Bulls also drew players from the Pumas (Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...

) and Leopards (North West
North West (South African province)
North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mafikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng.-History:...

), but in the realignment of franchise areas that came from the expansion of Super 12 to Super 14, these unions were moved into the franchise area of the Cats, now known as the Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...

.

2012 squad

The Wider Training group for the 2012 Super Rugby season
2012 Super Rugby season
The 2012 Super Rugby season is the second season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition, which involves teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Including its past incarnations as Super 12 and Super 14, this is the 17th season for the Southern Hemisphere's premier...

 has been announced as follows:

Props Rossouw de Klerk Dean Greyling
Dean Greyling
Dean Mac Guyver Greyling is a professional rugby union player who plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and Super 14 He was schooled at Afrikaaans High School....

 Frik Kirsten Werner Kruger
Werner Kruger
Werner Kruger is a rugby union player who plays at prop. He plays for the Bulls in the Super 14, making his debut during the 2008 season. Kruger was part of the Bulls team that won both the 2009 and 2010 Super 14 finals...

 Morné Mellett Dawie Steyn

Hookers Bongi Mbonambi Robbie Coetzee Chiliboy Ralepelle
Chiliboy Ralepelle
Mahlatse "Chiliboy" Ralepelle , generally referred to by his nickname, is a South African rugby union footballer. His usual position is at hooker...

 Willie Wepener

Locks Cornell Hess Juandré Kruger
Juandre Kruger
Juandre Kruger is a South African Rugby union footballer, contracted to the Blue Bulls. His preferred position is at Lock although he has also played in the back row.-Early provincial career in South Africa:...

 LB Lusaseni Fudge Mabeta Franco Mostert Wilhelm Steenkamp Flip van der Merwe
Flip van der Merwe
Flip van der Merwe is a South African rugby union footballer who plays in the lock position. In June 2010 he was selected to represent the South African national team, the Springboks, in the June 12 test against France. In 2009, van der Merwe was recruited by the successful Super 14 team the Blue...

 

Loose Forwards Daniel Adongo Arno Botha Jean Cook Dewald Potgieter
Dewald Potgieter
Dewald Potgieter is a professional South African rugby union rugby player. His first tour with the Springboks was to France, Italy, Ireland & England in late 2009. Potgieter also plays loose forward position for the Super 14 franchise, the Blue Bulls...

 Jacques Potgieter
Jacques Potgieter
Jacques Potgieter is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the .He represented at the annual Craven Week rugby tournament in 2004 and then clinched a move to the , whom he represented at various youth levels before playing in the Vodacom Cup for two seasons before moving back...

 Jono Ross Deon Stegmann
Deon Stegmann
Deon Stegmann is a professional South African rugby union player, who represents the Springboks and Bulls at openside flank. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at the age of 21....

 Pierre Spies
Pierre Spies
Pierre Johan Spies is a South African rugby union player. His usual position is number 8 , where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. He has represented the Springboks since 2006.He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas...

 (c)
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...

 CJ Stander Warwick Tecklenburg Gerrit-Jan van Velze

Scrum Halves Francois Hougaard
Francois Hougaard
Francois Hougaard is a professional South African rugby union rugby player. His primary position is scrumhalf, but in recent times he has been deployed on the wing for the Bulls...

 Ruan Snyman Jano Vermaak

Fly Halves Wesley Dunlop Louis Fouché Morné Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 

Centres Ulrich Beyers Adri Jacobs Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier is a South African rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is at centre, although he has played on the wing in the past.-Career:...

 Johann Sadie
Johann Sadie
Johann Sadie is a professional South African rugby union player. He currently plays for Western Province in South Africa's Currie Cup, and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He usually plays as a centre.- External links :**...

 Francois Venter

Wingers Bjorn Basson
Bjorn Basson
Bjorn Alberic Basson is a South African professional rugby union player who plays as wing - and sometimes as full-back - for the Bulls and the South Africa national rugby union team....

 JJ Engelbrecht Sampie Mastriet Akona Ndungane
Akona Ndungane
Akona Zilindlovu Ndungane is a South African rugby union footballer. His usual position is on the wing, though he can play in the centres. He plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...



Full Backs Clayton Blommetjies Lionel Cronjé
Lionel Cronje
Lionel Cronjé is a South African rugby union footballer.- External links :***...

 Zane Kirchner
Zane Kirchner
Zane Kirchner is a South African international rugby union footballer who plays at fullback for the Bulls in the Super 14 and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. Born in George, Western Cape, Kirchner attended PW Botha College in his home town, for whom he played at fly-half; he was first selected...

 Jurgen Visser

In for 2012

Lionel Cronjé
Lionel Cronje
Lionel Cronjé is a South African rugby union footballer.- External links :***...

 from (  Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...

) JJ Engelbrecht from (  Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...

) Jacques Potgieter
Jacques Potgieter
Jacques Potgieter is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the .He represented at the annual Craven Week rugby tournament in 2004 and then clinched a move to the , whom he represented at various youth levels before playing in the Vodacom Cup for two seasons before moving back...

 from (  EP Kings
Eastern Province Kings
The Eastern Province Kings are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments and are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union...

) Johann Sadie
Johann Sadie
Johann Sadie is a professional South African rugby union player. He currently plays for Western Province in South Africa's Currie Cup, and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He usually plays as a centre.- External links :**...

 from (  Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...

) Wilhelm Steenkamp from (  Cheetahs
Central Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...

) Dawie Steyn from (  Pumas) Jano Vermaak from (  Lions) Willie Wepener from (  Clermont
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...

)

Out for 2012

Bakkies Botha
Bakkies Botha
John Philip "Bakkies" Botha, is a South African rugby union player who plays lock for the Springboks. He was a member of the national team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2007 in addition to winning two Tri-Nations titles in 2004 and 2009...

 to (  Toulon) Gary Botha
Gary Botha
Gary Botha is a professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Stade Toulousain have signed from the Bulls in the Summer of 2011. He also plays for the South African national team...

 to (  Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...

) Stephan Dippenaar (blitzbokke(national Sevens Team)
South Africa national rugby union team (sevens)
The South African national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Current squad:2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series 14-man squad :#Cecil Afrika...

) Fourie du Preez
Fourie du Preez
Petrus Fourie du Preez is a rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum half. Du Preez plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition in South Africa and the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition...

 to (  Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...

) Derick Kuün to (retirement) Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...

 to (retirement) Jaco Pretorius
Jaco Pretorius
Jaco Pretorius is a South African Rugby union centre/wing. He currently plays for the Bulls in the Super 14. Previously he had played over 70 games for the Lions since 2001. He is also a former South African rugby sevens captain.-External links:* ar SARugby.com...

 to (retirement) Danie Rossouw
Danie Rossouw
Danie Rossouw is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a second row forward. He plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. Rossouw made his provincinal debut during 1999 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the North Western Province in the Currie Cup competition...

 to (  Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...

) Bees Roux to (  Union Bordeaux Bègles) Gurthrö Steenkamp
Gurthro Steenkamp
Gurthrö Garth Steenkamp is a South African Rugby union player. He plays loosehead prop. Steenkamp currently plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls in the Super 14...

 to (  Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...

) Gerhard van den Heever
Gerhard van den Heever
Gerhard van den Heever is a South African rugby union footballer. In 2010 van den Heever inherited Bryan Habana's number 11 shirt for the Bulls after Habana's departure for the Stormers; van den Heever is said to be even quicker than Habana...

 to (  Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...

) Stefan Watermeyer (Ospreys)

Coaches

  • 1996: Dr John Williams
  • 1997: Kitch Christie
    Kitch Christie
    George Moir Christie, better known as Kitch Christie , was a South African rugby union coach best known for coaching the country's national team, the Springboks, to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup...

  • 1998–99: Eugene van Wyk
  • 2000: Heyneke Meyer
  • 2001: Phil Pretorius
  • 2002: Heyneke Meyer
  • 2003: Rudi Joubert
  • 2004–07: Heyneke Meyer
  • 2008–: Frans Ludeke

Captains

  • 1996–97: Ruben Kruger
    Ruben Kruger
    Ruben Jacobus Kruger, born in Vrede , was a South African rugby union player. He played as a flanker.-Career:...

  • 1998: Adriaan Richter
    Adriaan Richter
    Adriaanus Hendrikus Richter, better known as Adriaan Richter , is a former South African rugby union player who played for the South Africa national rugby union team between 1992 and 1995....

  • 1999: Schutte Bekker
  • 2000: Ruben Kruger
  • 2001: Joost van der Westhuizen
    Joost van der Westhuizen
    Joost van der Westhuizen is a former South African rugby union footballer who was the Springboks' first choice scrum-half in the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s. He was capped 89 times for the Springboks and scored 38 tries...

  • 2002: Chris le Roux
  • 2003: Joost van der Westhuizen
  • 2004: Victor Matfield
    Victor Matfield
    Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...

  • 2005: Anton Leonard
  • 2006–07: Victor Matfield
    Victor Matfield
    Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...

  • 2008: Fourie du Preez
    Fourie du Preez
    Petrus Fourie du Preez is a rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum half. Du Preez plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition in South Africa and the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition...

  • 2009–11: Victor Matfield
    Victor Matfield
    Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...

  • 2012: Pierre Spies
    Pierre Spies
    Pierre Johan Spies is a South African rugby union player. His usual position is number 8 , where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. He has represented the Springboks since 2006.He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas...


Team

Record Held by
Most consecutive victories 12 (25 April 2009–27 March 2010)
Most consecutive home victories 20 (19 April 2008–5 March 2011)

Match

Record Held by
Biggest victory 92–3 (v. Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...

, 2007)
Largest points for 92 (v Queensland Reds, 2007)
Biggest defeat 9–73 (v ACT Brumbies, 1999)
Most points conceded 75 (v Crusaders, 2000)
Most tries: 13 (v Queensland Reds, 2007)
Most tries conceded 11 (v Crusaders, 2000)
Most points by a player 35 by Morné Steyn (v Stormers, 2005, v Brumbies 2010)
Most tries by a player 3 by Fourie du Preez
Fourie du Preez
Petrus Fourie du Preez is a rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum half. Du Preez plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition in South Africa and the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition...

 (v Cats, 2004)
Most conversions by a player 11 by Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...

 (v Queensland Reds, 2007)
Most penalties by a player 8 by Jannie de Beer
Jannie de Beer
Jan Hendrik de Beer , nicknamed Jannie, is a South African former rugby union player. He played flyhalf for the South African national team, the Springboks. In all he represented the Springboks in 13 tests, scoring 183 points. He stands 1.82 meters tall, and weighs 87 kilograms...

 (versus Highlanders, 1996, then Northern Transvaal)
8 by Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...

 (versus Crusaders, 2007)
Most drop goals by a player 4 by Morne Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (v Crusaders, 2009)

Individual

Record Held by
Most appearances 113 by Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg is a South African Rugby Union player who currently plays for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro12. He previously represented the Bulls in the southern hemisphere Super 14 competition. As of 15 June 2010, he signed a deal with Irish club, Ulster Rugby...

 (2002-2010/05/31)
Most consecutive appearances 99 by Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg is a South African Rugby Union player who currently plays for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro12. He previously represented the Bulls in the southern hemisphere Super 14 competition. As of 15 June 2010, he signed a deal with Irish club, Ulster Rugby...

 (2003/04/19–2010/05/31)
Oldest player 37 years 134 days by Johan le Roux (27/3/1999, then Northern Bulls)
Most points 757 by Morne Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2005–2010/05/31 – 73 games)
Most tries 37 by Bryan Habana (2005–2009)
Most conversions 139 by Morne Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2005–2010 – 73 games)
Most penalties 126 by Morne Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2005–2010 – 73 games)
Most drop goals 17 by Morne Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 – equal to Super Rugby record (2005–2010, 73 games)
Most appearances as captain 60 by Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...

 (?-2010-05-31)

Season

Record Held by
Most points 500 (2010)
Most points by a player 263 by Morné Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2010 – Super Rugby record)
Most team tries 51 (2010)
Most tries by a player 9 by Bryan Habana
Bryan Habana
Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...

 (2005)
Most conversions by a player 38 by Morné Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2010)
Most penalties by a player 51 Morné Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2010 – Super Rugby Record)
Most drop goals by a player 11 by Morné Steyn
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...

 (2009, Super Rugby Record)

Super 12

Super 12 Results
Year Place Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Playoffs
1996
1996 Super 12 season
The 1996 Super 12 season was the inaugural season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 1996, with each team playing all the others once...

4th 11 8 0 3 329 208
121
6 38 As Northern Transvaal, lost semi-final to Auckland Blues.
1997
1997 Super 12 season
The 1997 Super 12 season was the second season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 1997, with each team playing all the others once...

8th 11 3 3 5 264 342 −78 4 22 As Blue Bulls (Nth Transvaal).
1998
1998 Super 12 season
The 1998 Super 12 season was the third season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 1998, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

11th 11 3 0 8 249 306 −57 4 16
1999
1999 Super 12 season
The 1999 Super 12 season was the fourth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 1999, with each team playing all the others once...

12th 11 1 0 10 203 447 −244 3 7
2000
2000 Super 12 season
The 2000 Super 12 season was the fifth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2000, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

11th 11 1 2 8 231 395 −164 3 11
2001
2001 Super 12 season
The 2001 Super 12 season was the sixth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2001, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

12th 11 2 0 9 241 378 −137 3 11
2002
2002 Super 12 season
The 2002 Super 12 season was the seventh season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2002, with each team playing all the others once...

12th 11 0 0 11 232 500 −268 1 1
2003
2003 Super 12 season
The 2003 Super 12 season was the eighth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2003, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi...

6th 11 6 0 5 320 354 −34 5 30
2004
2004 Super 12 season
The 2004 Super 12 season was the ninth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2004, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

6th 11 5 1 5 302 320 −18 6 28
2005
2005 Super 12 season
The 2005 Super 12 season was the tenth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2005, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...

3rd 11 7 0 4 301 229 72 6 34 Lost semi-final to Waratahs.

Super 14

Super 14 Results
Year Place Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Playoffs
2006
2006 Super 14 season
The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday 10 February 2006. The Grand Final was held on Saturday 27 May 2006. Super 14 is a provincial rugby union competition with 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the...

4th 13 7 1 5 355 290 65 8 38 Lost semi-final to Crusaders.
2007
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...

1st 15 11 0 4 435 254 181 6 42 Defeated the Sharks.
2008
2008 Super 14 season
The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 31 May, when the Crusaders won their seventh Super Rugby title with a 20–12 victory over the Waratahs in front of the Crusaders' home fans. The 2008 season was the third of the expansion,...

10th 13 6 0 7 324 347 −23 4 28
2009
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...

1st 15 12 0 3 435 311 124 6 46 Defeated the Chiefs.
2010
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...

1st 13 10 0 3 436 345 91 7 47 Defeated the Stormers

Super Rugby

Super Rugby Results
Year Place Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Playoffs
2011 7th 16 10 0 6 416 370 46 6 54

External links

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