Griffons (rugby team)

Griffons

Full name	Griffons
Union	Griffons Rugby Union
Emblem(s)	Griffon
Founded	1968
Region	Part of the Free State Province, South Africa
Ground(s)	North West Stadium (Capacity: 17,000)
Coach(es)	Oersond Gorgonzola
Captain(s)	Werner Griesel
League(s)	Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup
2011 Currie Cup First Division	4th (losing semi-finalists)
Official website
http://www.griffons-rugby.co.za

The Griffons are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments. They play out of Welkom at North West Stadium, and draw players from roughly the eastern third of Free State Province (the remainder of the province comprises the territory of the Free State Cheetahs).

Players from the Griffons are eligible for selection to the Vodacom Cheetahs Super Rugby franchise, along with players from the Free State Cheetahs and Griquas.

The team currently plays in the First Division of the Currie Cup, attracting crowds of around 4,000.

History

The Griffons rugby union was formed in 1968 when the late Dr Danie Craven, the president of SA rugby, had a vision to try and spread the game to rural areas in South Africa. The Griffons were one of four new provinces formed, originally known as Northern Free State (or Noord Vrystaat in Afrikaans).

In 1996, with the start of professional rugby, the then South African rugby football union, under Louis Luyt, decided to re-divide the unions to have only 14 provinces in South Africa, with Northern Free State being one. The Eastern Free State province was incorporated into Northern Free State. In 1999, Northern Free State changed their name to the Griffons.

Players

The following players started games for the Griffons in the 2011 Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions:

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

Player Position Union Kobus Calldo Prop South Africa JP Geldenhuys Prop South Africa Jaco Louw Prop South Africa Sarel Louw Prop South Africa Petros Methula Prop South Africa Trevor Nyakane Prop South Africa Heinrich Roelofse Prop South Africa Kevin Stevens Prop South Africa Kewan Voysey Prop South Africa Andries Kruger Hooker South Africa Hercu Liebenberg Hooker South Africa Hannes Snyman Hooker South Africa Derrick van Heerden Hooker South Africa Gavin Annandale Lock South Africa Leon Grobbelaar Lock South Africa Joubert Horn Lock South Africa Johan van Heerden Lock South Africa Windpomp van Rooyen Lock South Africa Luan Velthuizen Lock South Africa Donavan Ball Flanker South Africa Shaun Botha Flanker South Africa Willie Britz Flanker South Africa André de Villiers Flanker South Africa Willmar Groenewald Flanker South Africa Glen Mafumo Flanker South Africa Freddie Ngoza Flanker South Africa Shaun Raubenheimer Flanker South Africa Burger Schoeman Flanker South Africa Martin Sithole Flanker South Africa Philip van der Walt Flanker South Africa Marnus Briedenhann Number 8 South Africa Nicky Steyn Number 8 South Africa

Player Position Union Inus Kritzinger Scrum-half South Africa Andries Mahoney Scrum-half South Africa Oshwill Nortjé Scrum-half South Africa Enrico Schultz Scrum-half South Africa Jannie Myburgh Fly-half South Africa Tiaan van Wyk Fly-half South Africa Werner Griesel (c) Centre South Africa Thabang Molefe Centre South Africa Pieter Myburgh Centre South Africa Japie Nel Centre South Africa Eddie Fredericks Wing South Africa Shane Hancke Wing South Africa Cameron Jacobs Wing South Africa Grant Janke Wing South Africa Jaco Meyer Wing South Africa Jongi Nokwe Wing South Africa Ricardo Pietersen Wing South Africa Virgil Russel Wing South Africa Bom Samaai Wing South Africa Tertius Maarman Fullback South Africa Herman Pretorius Fullback South Africa

External links

• Official site