Western Province (rugby team)
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| Western Province | |
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| Full name | Western Province |
| Emblem | Disa (orchid) |
| Colours | Blue & white |
| Founded | 1883 |
| Sport | Rugby union |
| League | Currie Cup |
| Ground | Newlands |
| Official website | wprugby.com |
Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions. It was established in 1883, making it the oldest team in the competition. The team wears blue and white jerseys, and play at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1883-1945
The club was established in 1883. The club claimed their first Currie Cup title in 1889; they repeated this success just three years later, winning the title again in 1892. Western Province continued to dominate the Currie Cup throughout the 1890s, winning the competition in 1894, 1895, 1897 and 1898. This success continued into the early 1900s, as they won in 1904, 1906 and 1908. The competition still being contested irregularly at this stage, was next won by the Western Province in 1914. They won a further seven times over the next two decades - four times in the 1920s and again three times in the 1930s, though two of these were shared with Border. When the first Currie Cup championship was introduced in 1939, Western Province featured in the final, but lost to Transvaal 17 points to six in Cape Town.
[edit] 1946-present
After losing the final in 1946 to Northern Transvaal, Western Province won their first the final in 1947. The Currie Cup became an annual competition in 1969 and Western Province made it to the final that year, though they lost to Northern Transvaal. The team had to wait another seven seasons before making another final appearance, lost to Orange Free State in Bloemfontein. Three years later they won the Currie Cup, although they had to share the victory with Northern Transvaal at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. This rivalry continued, being defeated by Northern Transvaal the following season, the teams met in another six championships until the 1990s. After being defeated by Northern Transvaal in the 1989 final, their next final appearance would be in 1995, when they were defeated by the Natal Sharks in Durban. They won the Currie Cup in 1997, defeating the Free State Cheetahs, but the following season they went down to old rivals, now the Blue Bulls (former Northern Transvaal). The Western Province won the championship twice in 2000 and 2001, defeating the Sharks on both occasions.
[edit] Finals results
[edit] Currie Cup
[edit] Notes
1 Transvaal are now known as the Golden Lions.
2 Contested over two seasons.
3 Orange Free State were renamed the Free State Cheetahs.
4 Northern Transvaal were renamed the Blue Bulls.
[edit] Records and statistics
[edit] Most points in a season
- 619 in 1997 (15 matches)
[edit] Most tries in a season
- 84 in 1997 (15 matches)
[edit] Largest victory
- 103-9 v Eastern Free State
[edit] Most tries by a player
- 51 by Carel du Plessis (also played for Transvaal)
- 51 by Niel Burger
[edit] Most tries in a season by a player
- 19 by Carel du Plessis in 1989
[edit] Most tries in a match by a player
- 5 by Justin Swart v Northern Free State in 1996
- 5 by Breyton Paulse v Gauteng Falcons in 1997
- 5 by Egon Seconds v Griqualand West in 2004
[edit] Most career points
- 1021 by Calla Scholtz
[edit] Most points in a season by a player
- 227 by Calla Scholtz in 1988 (14 matches)
[edit] External link
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| 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 |
