Golden Lions

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Lions

Full name	Golden Lions
Emblem	Lion
Colours	Red, White, Gold
Founded	1889
Sport	Rugby union
League	Currie Cup
Ground	Ellis Park
Official website	lionsrugby.co.za

(This article is about the South African rugby team. For information on the U.S. 106th Infantry Division, also known as the Golden Lions, go here.)

The Golden Lions are the main rugby union for Johannesburg, South Africa, although they also represent a substantial portion of Gauteng Province—though not the Pretoria area, which is represented by the Blue Bulls, or the East Rand, represented by the Falcons. The team was originally named the Transvaal, but their name was changed to the Lions in 1993 and the Golden Lions in 1998. The team plays at Ellis Park Stadium, and serves as the primary feeder for the Lions Super 14 franchise (renamed from the Cats in September 2006), which also plays at Ellis Park.

1 History
2 Finals results
- 2.1 Currie Cup
- 2.2 Notes
3 External links

[edit] History

The Golden Lions were established in 1889, which makes them the fourth oldest team in South Africa. The team, originally named the Transvaal, played their first match on 31 August 1889 against the Griquas in Kimberley. They changed their name from 'Transvaal' to the 'Lions' in 1993, and then to the 'Golden Lions' in 1998.

The team won the Currie Cup for the first time in 1922, and won it again in 1939, 1950, 1952, 1972, 1993, 1994, and 1999. The lions where undoubtedly the team of the 90's in South Africa. In 1971, they shared the trophy with the Blue Bulls in a 14-all draw. The Golden Lions narrowly missed out on the finals in the 2006 season, finishing fifth on the table.

[edit] Finals results

[edit] Currie Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runner-up	Venue
1922	Transvaal	n/a	n/a	n/a
1939	Transvaal	17 - 6	Western Province	Newlands, Cape Town
1947	Western Province	16 - 12	Transvaal	Newlands, Cape Town
1950	Transvaal	22 - 11	Western Province	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1952	Transvaal	11 - 9	Boland	Wellington
1968	Northern Transvaal	16 - 3	Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1971	Transvaal	14 - 14	Northern Transvaal	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1972	Transvaal	25 - 19	Falcons³	Pam Brink, Springs
1974	Northern Transvaal	17 - 15	Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1986	Western Province	22 - 9	Transvaal	Newlands, Cape Town
1987	Northern Transvaal	24 - 18	Transvaal	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1991	Blue Bulls	27 - 15	Transvaal	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1992	Natal Sharks	14 - 13	Transvaal	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1993	Transvaal	21 - 15	Natal Sharks	Kings Park, Durban
1994	Transvaal	56 - 35	Orange Free State¹	Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1996	Natal Sharks	33 - 15	Golden Lions	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
1999	Golden Lions	32 - 9	Natal Sharks	Kings Park, Durban
2002	Blue Bulls²	31 - 7	Golden Lions	Ellis Park, Johannesburg

[edit] Notes

¹ Orange Free State have since been renamed the Free State Cheetahs.
² Northern Transvaal were renamed the Blue Bulls.
³ Falcons were originally known as Eastern Transvaal

[edit] External links

v • d • e Rugby union in South Africa
Federation:	South African Rugby Union
National team:	South Africa • South Africa Sevens
International Competitions:	Rugby World Cup • Tri Nations • Super 14 • Mandela Challenge Plate • Freedom Cup • Rugby World Cup Sevens • IRB Sevens World Series • South Africa (George) Sevens
Super 14 teams:	Bulls • Cheetahs • Lions • Sharks • Stormers
Domestic Competitions:	Currie Cup • Vodacom Cup
Currie Cup Premier teams:	Blue Bulls • Free State Cheetahs • Golden Lions • Griquas • Natal Sharks • Pumas • Western Province • Falcons
Currie Cup Division One teams :	Boland Cavaliers • Border Bulldogs • Eagles • Griffons • Leopards • Mighty Elephants