List of South African rugby union teams

List of South African rugby union teams
Country	South Africa
Governing body	South African Rugby Union
National team	South Africa
Nickname(s)	Springboks
National competitions
Rugby World Cup The Rugby Championship Rugby World Cup Sevens IRB Sevens World Series
Club competitions
Super Rugby Currie Cup Vodacom Cup Varsity Rugby SARU Gold Cup

Rugby union in South Africa is centrally administered by the South African Rugby Union, which consists of fourteen provincial unions – the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, the Boland Rugby Union, the Border Rugby Football Union, the Eastern Province Rugby Union, the Free State Rugby Union, the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the Griffons Rugby Union, the Griqualand West Rugby Union, the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, the Leopards Rugby Union, the Mpumalanga Rugby Union, the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union, the Valke Rugby Union and the Western Province Rugby Football Union.^[1]

Each of these unions administers a senior professional rugby team that participates in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions. In addition, these unions are responsible for amateur club rugby in their region. Clubs participate in provincial leagues organised by the unions; university sides also participate in the annual Varsity Cup competition, while non-university sides participate in the annual SARU Gold Cup.

South Africa have six franchises participating in the annual Super Rugby competition. All fourteen provincial unions are allocated to a Super Rugby franchise on a geographic basis.

Super Rugby

The six Super Rugby franchises, plus their constituent rugby unions are:

South African Super Rugby franchises
Franchise	Base	Core rugby union	Other rugby unions
Bulls	Pretoria	Blue Bulls Rugby Union	Valke Rugby Union
Cheetahs	Bloemfontein	Free State Rugby Union	Griffons Rugby Union Griqualand West Rugby Union
Kings	Port Elizabeth	Eastern Province Rugby Union	Border Rugby Football Union South Western Districts Rugby Football Union
Lions	Johannesburg	Golden Lions Rugby Union	Leopards Rugby Football Union Mpumalanga Rugby Union
Sharks	Durban	KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union
Stormers	Cape Town	Western Province Rugby Union	Boland Rugby Union

Provincial Rugby

Map of South Africa displaying the borders of the 14 Currie Cup teams

The fourteen provincial unions each have a professional team that play in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions, plus youth sides in the Under-21 and Under-19 provincial competitions and youth tournaments such as the Under-18 and Under-13 Craven Week tournaments, the Under-18 Academy Week tournament and the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournament.

South African provincial teams
Union	Base	Professional team
Blue Bulls Rugby Union	Pretoria	Blue Bulls
Boland Rugby Union	Wellington	Boland Cavaliers
Border Rugby Football Union	East London	Border Bulldogs
Eastern Province Rugby Union	Port Elizabeth	Eastern Province Kings
Free State Rugby Union	Bloemfontein	Free State Cheetahs
Golden Lions Rugby Union	Johannesburg	Golden Lions
Griffons Rugby Union	Welkom	Griffons
Griqualand West Rugby Union	Kimberley	Griquas
KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union	Durban	Sharks
Leopards Rugby Football Union	Potchefstroom	Leopards
Mpumalanga Rugby Union	Nelspruit	Pumas
South Western Districts Rugby Football Union	George	SWD Eagles
Valke Rugby Union	Kempton Park	Falcons
Western Province Rugby Union	Cape Town	Western Province

Since 2013, a Limpopo Blue Bulls team participated in the Vodacom Cup competition. Limpopo is a sub-union that forms part of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union.

Varsity Rugby

In 2008, a Varsity Cup competition was created, with eight universities competing. In 2011, a second tier called the Varsity Shield was added, consisting of a further five side and the collective was rebranded as "Varsity Rugby". In addition to playing in the Varsity Rugby competitions, these sides also take part in the provincial unions' championships.

Varsity Rugby teams
University	Team	Union
Central University of Technology	CUT Ixias	Free State Rugby Union
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University	NMMU Madibaz	Eastern Province Rugby Union
North-West University	NWU Pukke	Leopards Rugby Union
Tshwane University of Technology	TUT Vikings	Blue Bulls Rugby Union
University of Cape Town	UCT Ikey Tigers	Western Province Rugby Union
University of Fort Hare	UFH Blues	Border Rugby Football Union
University of Johannesburg	UJ	Golden Lions Rugby Union
University of KwaZulu-Natal	UKZN Impi	KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union
University of Pretoria	UP Tuks	Blue Bulls Rugby Union
University of Stellenbosch	Maties	Western Province Rugby Union
University of the Free State	UFS Shimlas	Free State Rugby Union
University of the Western Cape	UWC	Western Province Rugby Union
University of the Witwatersrand	Wits	Golden Lions Rugby Union

Provincial championships

Each of the provincial unions have a number of amateur clubs playing in the respective club championships. The highest-placed non-university sides qualify to the annual SARU Gold Cup.

Blue Bulls Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union are:^[2]

Atteridgeville Brits Bronkhorstspruit Centurion Correctional Services Cullinan Dragons

Eersterust Hartbeespoort Mabopane Mamelodi Nellmapius Medunsa Campus Naka Bulls Noordelikes

Oostelike Eagles Pretoria Pretoria Harlequins Pretoria Military Pretoria Police Silver Valke Soshanguve

Transwerk Parke Tswaing Tuine TUT Vikings UP Tuks Westelikes

Blue Bulls Limpopo Sub-Union

The club sides that form part of the Blue Bulls Limpopo Sub-Union are:^[3]

Atok Bosveld Kwagga Letaba Levubu Loskop Louis Trichardt

Mac Musina Mankweng Mogol Naboomspruit Noordelikes Northam Platinum Nylstroom

Phagameng Phalaborwa Pietersburg Police Potgietersrus Seshego Thabazimbi

Union University of Limpopo University of Venda Vaalwater Winterveldt

Updated 8 May 2014.

Boland Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Boland Rugby Union are:^[4]

Abbotsdale Adelaars All Stars Ashton United Atlantics Attackers Aurora Bella Vista Black Leaves Blue Swallows Bonnievale United Botrivier Broodkraal Caledon Cederberg Leopards Ceres Cheetahs Citrusdal Coronations CPUT Darling De Doorns Delicious Delicious Dennegeur Die Dorings Doringbaai Young Spurs Eagles Elandsbaai Elandskloof Elim Evergreens Paarl Evergreens Wellington Excelcior Flying Eagles Flying Eagles Genadendal

Goedverwacht Gold Stars Golden Eagles Golden Swallows Good Hopes Grabouw Green Lillies Greyton Growing Stars Hamlet Hawston Hillcrest United Hopefield Invincibles Kleinmond Klipdrift Koringberg Laingsburg Langebaan Malmesbury Mamre Marines Mbekweni United McGregor Miracles Montagu Môrester Mountain Stars Napier Never Despair Newtons Oak Valley Op-die-Berg Orchard Overhex Paardekloof Paternoster

Piketberg Porseleinberg Porterville Protea De Doorns Protea Worcester Rangers Bredasdorp Rangers De Hoop Rangers Robertson Rawsonville United Red Roses Red Roses Red Stars Riebeeck United Riviersonderend Robertson RFC Rooi Tiere Rooiberg United Rosendal Roses United Safcol Saldanha Saldanha Tigers Samoa Moorreesburg Saron Sea Hawks Spring Roses St Helenabaai Standards Struisbaai Temperance Thistles Titans Touwpark Tulbagh United Stars United Stones

Universals Universals Velddrif Verenigde Ceres Villagers Breërivier Villagers Citrusdal Villagers Montagu Villagers Newton Villagers Wittewater Villagers Worcester Villiersdorp Voorberg Vredenburg Wamakers Wellington Wesbank Wolseley Worcester Perseverance Young Black Arrows Young Blues Young Blues Young Diggers Young Eagles Young Eagles Young Eagles Robertson Young Good Hopes Young Hamiltons Young Hearts Young Proteas Young Proteas Young Stars Young Tigers Young Tigers Young Turbos Young Westlyans Zebras

Updated 8 May 2014.

Border Rugby Football Union

The club sides that recently played in the top-level domestic competition organised by the Border Rugby Football Union are:^[5][6]

Africans Berlin Tigers Buffalo Breakers Cambridge

East London Police Evergreen King Brumbies Ngculu Zebras Ntlaza Lions

Ocean Sweepers Old Collegians Old Selbornians Ready Blues Swallows

UFH Blues Wallabies Winter Rose WSU All Blacks Young Leopards

Updated 12 May 2014.

Eastern Province Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Eastern Province Rugby Union are:^[7]

Aberdeen Adelaide Rangers African Bombers Alderonians All Blacks Auckland Tigers Black Lions Born Fighters Central Coldstream Crusaders Colesburg Wanderers Cookhouse United DB Blues Despatch Despatch Oostelikes Easterns Evergreens (Cradock) Evergreens (Krakeel) Excelsior Gardens Gelvan Wallabies Gladiators Glen Roses

Grahamstown Brumbies Grootfontein Hamilton Hampshire Hankey Villagers Harlequins Hilltop Eagles Humansdorp RC Humansdorp United Jansenville Karoo Springbokke Khyelitsha United Kirkwood Klipfontein UT Kliplaat Kowie Kruisfontein Kuya Kuyga Kwaru Lily White Loerie Blues

Middleberg Eagles Mighty Blues Mission Motherwell Murraysburg NMMU Madibaz Noupoort Diamonds Old Grey Orlando Eagles Park Paterson Lions Pearston Villagers Pirates Port Elizabeth College Port Elizabeth Crusaders Port Elizabeth Harlequins Port Elizabeth Police Port Elizabeth Villagers Progress Red Lions Rhodes Rosebuds

Scorpions Siyakhula Spring Rose St Cyprian's St Francis Sharks St Mark's Star of Hope Steytlerville Dolphins Steytlerville United Suburban Sunday Stars Thistles Trying Stars Union United Barbarians Visitors Walmer Wales Walmer Wallabies Wanders Windvogel United Winter Rose Winter Rose (UIT)

Updated 8 May 2014.

Free State Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Free State Rugby Union are:^[8][9][10]

Bloemfontein Collegians Bloemfontein Crusaders Bloemfontein Defence Force

Bloemfontein Police CUT Ixias Mangaung

Old Greys Steyners

UFS Shimlas Warriors

Reserve teams also play in the league, as well as youth sides of CUT and UFS.

Updated 6 May 2015.

Golden Lions Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Golden Lions Rugby Union are:^[11]

Alberton Alexandra Diggers Eldoronians Germiston Simmer Harlequins

Jabulani Johannesburg Police Khosa Pirates Raiders

Randfontein Roodepoort Soweto Titans UJ

Union Wanderers Wasps Wes Wits Wits

Updated 8 May 2014.

Griffons Rugby Union

The club sides that recently played in the top two domestic competitions organised by the Griffons Rugby Union are:^[12][13]

Beatrix Bethlehem Collegians Bethlehem Oud Skoliere Bobbies Bothaville Bultfontein

Ficksburg Frankfort Harmony Harmony Tigers Henneman Kroonstad

Harrismith Hoopstad Kestell Koppies Klutwanong

Ladybrand Lindley Parys Welkom Welkom Rovers

Updated 12 May 2014.

Griqualand West Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Griqualand West Rugby Union are:^[14]

Aggeneys RFC Desert Daisies Rugby Club Douglas RFC Elevations Gladiators RFC Hartswater Rugby Club Hope Town Hurricanes Jacobsdal Kakamas, Rugby Klub Kenhard

Kenhardt, Rugby Klub Kimberley Polisie Rugby Club Klipfontein United Rugby Club Kuruman Rugby Club Marrigolds Nababeep Rugby Club Ocean Collegians Rugby Club Okiep Thistles R.F.C Orania Rugby Club Oranjemund RFC Phantoms Rugby Club Pofadder Rugby Klub

Postmasburg Prieska Rugby Club Protea United Protea United Rugby Club Rangers RFC Riverton's Rosh-Pinah Rugby Club Sishen Rugby Club Springbok Rugby Klub Steinkopf United RFC Sutherland Rugby Club

Tigers RFC United Rugby Football Club Universals Warrenton Rugby Club Warriors Rugby Football Club Young Blues Rugby Club Young Blues/Williston Young Lions Young Removers Rugby Club Young Stars Rugby Club

Updated 8 May 2014.

KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union are:

Amabhubesi Amangcesha Amanzimtoti Ballito Dolphins Bergville Zebras Black Knights RFC Bulls Cedara Clermont College Rovers Drakensberg Durban Collegians Durban Crusaders Durban Mets Eshowe Esikhawini Flying Eagles

Gamalakhe Harding Harlequins Hillcrest Villagers Hluhluwe Howick Eagles Ixopo Izinyathi Jaguars Kapaailand Kokstad Kwantu Ladysmith Ladysmith United Mandini Mangosuto University of Technology Matatiele

Melmoth Mtubatuba Nagle Dam Rhinos Newcastle Highlanders Newlands East Brumbies Noodsberg Obhejane Ogwini Bafana Pietermaritzburg Collegians Pietermaritzburg Waratahs Piet Retief Pinetown Raiders Pongola Queensburgh Rhinos Richards Bay

Scottburgh Sentraal South Coast Warriors University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College UKZN Impi University of KwaZulu-Natal Westville University of Zululand Ushaka Warriors Utrecht Varsity College Volksrust Voortrekker Old Boys Vryheid Young Lions Westville Old Boys Zululand Rhinos

Updated 8 May 2014.

Leopards Rugby Football Union

The club sides that recently played in the top-level domestic competition organised by the Leopards Rugby Football Union (or teams from the region playing in other competitions) are:^[15]

Hartbeesfontein Klerksdorp^2 Leeudoringstad

Lichtenburg Matlosana Rugby Club NWU Pukke^1

Potch Dorp Rustenburg Impala^3

Vaal Reefs^2 Vryburg

¹ NWU Pukke play club rugby in the Golden Lions Pirates Grand Challenge.
² Klerksdorp and Vaal Reefs play club rugby in the Valke Peregrine League.
³ Rustenburg Impala play club rugby in the Blue Bulls Carlton League.

Mpumalanga Rugby Union

The club sides that recently played in the top-level domestic competition organised by the Mpumalanga Rugby Union are:^[16]

Barberton Bethal Carolina Ermelo Groblersdal

Hurricanes Kriel Lydenburg Rooikatte Malelane

Matla Middelburg Nelspruit Sasol

Standerton Tigers White River Witbank Ferros

Updated 12 May 2014.

South Western Districts Rugby Football Union

The club sides that form part of the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union are:^[17]

Adias Albertinia All Blacks Arrows Barrydale Beaufort Bitou Black Lions Black Warriors Blanco Bonnievale Blue Birds Bridgton Buffaloes Calitzdorp Collegians Crusaders DKD Mosselbaai DKD Oudtshoorn

Dysselsdorp Eagle Stars Evergreens Excelciors Gamka United Garden Route George Glen Roses Greater Knysna Grootbrak Happy Hearts Harlequins Heidelberg Hungry Lions Jaguars Kango United Knysna United Ladismith

Maoris Mossel Bay Mossel Bay Barbarians Mountain Stars NMMU George Oudtshoorn Perseverance Plett United Prince Albert Progress George Progress Suurbraak Proteas PSP Timbers Rheenendal Riversdal Barbarians Riversdal Dorp Riversdale Blues

Seagulls Shamrocks Silverstars Spring Roses Super Stars Swellendam Swings Thistles Uniondale United Stars Van Wyksdorp Vleesbaai Willowmore Winter Roses Young Leaves Young Roses Zoar

Updated 6 May 2014.

Valke Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Valke Rugby Union are:^[18]

Benoni Boksburg Brakpan Buffels Delmas

East Rand Police East Rand United Edenpark Edenvale Elsburg

Heidelberg Kempton Wolwe Meyerton Nigel NWU Vaal Triangle

Sasolburg Springs Vaal VUT Vereeniging

Updated 8 May 2014.

Western Province Rugby Union

The club sides that form part of the Western Province Rugby Union are:^[19]

Albions All Saints Allandale Atlantis Belhar Bellville Bishop Lavis Blakes Blue Downs Blue Jets Blue Stars United Brackenfell Busy Bees Caledonian Roses Cities Cloetesville Collegians Durbanville-Bellville Eersterivier Elsies River United False Bay False Bay Cobras Franschhoek United Goodwood Goodwood Gazelles

Hamediehs Hamiltons Hamlets Hands & Heart Helderberg Imiqhayi Khaya Rose Khayelitsha Koshuis Kraaifontein Kuilsrivier Kylemore Lagunya Langa Lower Paarl Macassar Manenberg Rangers Masiphumelele Maties Mitchells Plain Utd Mountain Rocks NNK Noordelikes Paarl Paarl Rangers

Peninsula Perel United Perseverance Pniel Villagers Polisie Primrose Progress Raithby Universals Rangers Retreat Richmond Rangers Riverstones Rocklands Scottsdene Central Silverleaf Silvertree Simondium Sir Lowrians SK Walmers St George's Stellenbosch Coronations Strand Strand Pioneers Strand United Technikon-tuine

Temperance Thistles Titans Tygerberg UCT Ikey Tigers Unimilrfc United brothers UWC Van der Stel Vikings Police Villager Vineyards Violets Violets (Paarl) Watsonia Whistling Wheels Windmeul United Young Brothers Young Gardens Young Ideas Young Peoples Young Standards Young Stars Young Wesleys

Updated 8 May 2014.

See also

• Currie Cup
• Vodacom Cup
• Varsity Rugby
• SARU Gold Cup

References

1. "Constitution of the South African Rugby Union" (PDF). South African Rugby Union. SuperSport. April 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
2. "Blou Bulle Rugby-Unie Klubs & Verenigings 2012" (in Afrikaans). Blue Bulls. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
3. "Limpopo Club Contacts" (in Afrikaans). Blue Bulls. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
4. "Boland Clubs - Structure". Boland Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
5. "2014 Community Cup Qualifying - Border Premier League". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
6. "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Community Cup Qualifying - 2014 Border Super League". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
7. "Club Teams - Eastern Province Rugby". Eastern Province Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
8. "Amateur Rugby". Free State Cheetahs. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
9. "2014 Community Cup Qualifying - Free State 1st League". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
10. "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Community Cup Qualifying - 2014 Free State First League & Town Challenge Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
11. "Other Teams - Clubs". Golden Lions Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
12. "2014 Community Cup Qualifying - Griffons 1st League". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
13. "Griffons Club Rugby". Club Rugby SA. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
14. "Clubs within the Griquas Region". Griqualand West Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
15. "2014 Community Cup Qualifying - Leopards Neser A League". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
16. "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Community Cup Qualifying - 2014 Mpumalanga Leagues". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
17. "Club Directory". SWD Eagles. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
18. "Valke Clubs". Valke Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
19. "Western Province Club Rugby - View Club Info". Western Province Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 May 2014.