South African Rugby - USSAS - University Scholarships for South African Students, Inc.

A brief history of Rugby in South Africa

It was not until 1930 that the way the Rugby game was played was standardized across the world. The first match in South Africa took place between the "Officers of the Army" and the "Gentlemen of the Civil Service" at Green Point in Cape Town in 1862 and ended as a 0-0 draw. The game spread with British colonizers through the Eastern Cape, Natal and along the gold and diamond routes to Kimberley and Johannesburg.

The first Rugby union to be formed in South Africa was Western Province, which came into being in 1883; Griqualand West followed in 1886 and Eastern Province in 1888. South Africa played its first international game in 1891 against a touring side from Britain although it was not until the side toured Britain in 1906 that they became known as the Springboks. South Africa won their third series in 1903. It was not until the 1955 tour of New Zealand that they were to be defeated in a series, as they established themselves as arguably the world’s leading rugby nation.

The rules, or “laws” of rugby are extensive and complex. The game calls for two teams of 15 players each to be on the field at one time. Each player has a designated position to play, and the goal is to carry, throw, or kick the ball across the opponents’ goal line.

South African Rugby Stadiums and Fields

Securicor Loftus

ABSA Stadium, Durban

Newlands

Vodacom Stadium, Bloemfontein

Eastern Province Rugby Union Stadium

ABSA Stadium, Kimberley

For more information about Rugby in South Africa, visit the following links:

South Africa Rugby

A site with sugby headlines, featured players, game results, discussion forums, and much more.

South Africa On line: Sports

An index of annotated links to South African Rugby sites and forums as well as a mailing list, Rugby Magazine Online, and others.

Planet Rugby: South Africa

South African rugby news, players, statistics, and current events.

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The Super 12 is a round-robin competition with each team playing every other team with games held each weekend. A team receives four points for a win, two for a draw, and none for a loss. Teams also receive a bonus point for scoring four tries, regardless of the final result. A bonus point is also earned by a team that loses a game by seven points (a converted try) or less. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin phase then play semifinals, with the first placed team hosting the fourth placed team and the second placed team hosting the third placed team. The two winners then play the final.

The current Super 12 teams include four South African Teams:

Bulls (representing northern Gauteng and points north)

Cats (representing southern Gauteng, Free State, and nearby areas)

Sharks (representing KwaZulu-Natal and adjacent areas in Eastern Cape)

Stormers (representing Western Cape, Northern Cape, and most of Eastern Cape)