Rugby league in South Africa

Rugby league is a team sport played in South Africa. There has been three dynasties of rugby league in South Africa that attempted to establish a thriving rugby league. Not all attempts were in the interest of South Africans; rather an interest in financial windfall. Others took to the townships and promoted the league at the grass roots, which saw some of the most successful periods of rugby league in South Africa. The game has changed over 50 years of involvement in South Africa and today is played by a small number of teams in the Tom van Vollenhoven Cup which is administered by the South African Rugby League.

The National Team

The South African national rugby league team is called the Rhinos. In addition to the national team, a representative team of South Africans living in the United Kingdom was formed in 2004 called the Wild Dogs.

History

Rugby league in South Africa has a long and turbulent history, consisting of no less than three administrations over 40 years that attempted to establish the game of rugby league in South Africa. Neither, certainly the earlier attempts were very successful.

The first attempted expansion of the code into South Africa was primarily put together by the English and encouraged by the French for the purpose of expanding the game into new nations, that would inevitably bring more tests to the English and French shores, ensuring a lucrative future. At least, that was the plan; however it was not to be, the South African public did not take to the sport and the expansion plans were stopped prematurely causing a 3rd scheduled match in London to not be played.

The second attempted expansion was a strange double act in the 1960s consisting of two separate factions, known as the National Rugby League and South African Rugby League. Each fought for their own survival until the RLIF laid down the law that saw the NRL effectively shut down and its clubs moved to the SARL. All was looking good for SARL until a South African representative team toured Australia and were embarrassingly beaten.

The 1990s brought forth a more committed band of entrepreneurs. The foundation left by the 1990s administration still lives on today, albeit a former shadow of its self.

Competition

Tom van Vollenhoven Cup

The Tom van Vollenhoven Cup is South African league's premier competition. The 2005/06 competition consisted of four teams: Eastern Eagles, Northern Bulls, Mpumalanga Panthers, Vaal Buffaloes.

Three emerging teams aimed to enter the Tom van Vollenhoven Cup for the next season. They were Drakensberg Wings, Central Manes, KZN Tigersharks.

In the 2007/08 season South African rugby league is made up five provincial teams: Eastern Eagles, Northern Bulls, Mpumalanga Panthers, Vaal Buffaloes, Central Manes. A total of 19 clubs then play in five provinces under these respective teams.

Central Manes and Northern Bulls:

* NG Bulls
* Armagera Bulls
* Silverbacks
* Centurian Lions
* Wanderes Scorpians
* Randburg Rams

Eastern Eagles:

* ERP Falcons
* Kempton Wolves
* Springs Vultures
* Brakpan Bears
* Germiston Tigers
* Boksburg Hooters

Mpumalanga Panthers:

* Ermelo Cheetahs
* Witbank Knights
* Middelburg Tigers
* Loskop Leopards

Vaal Buffaloes:

* Mambas
* VT Eagles
* Cobras

Teams are arranged in order of where they finished in their respective competitions. The teams Randburg Rams and Centurion Cups in the Central Manes/Northern Bulls province and Heidelburg in the Vaal Buffaloes province were forced to withdraw.

External links

* [http://www.sarugbyleague.co.za/index.php - Official website of South African Rugby League]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100404294442427692349.0004474f15ad0227aabe1 Google map of South African provincial sides]