Eastern Province Elephants Explained

Teamname:Eastern Province Elephants
Fullname:Eastern Province Elephants
Union:Eastern Province Rugby Union
Region:Western half of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Countryflag:South Africa
Colours:Red & Black
Founded:1888
President:Maasdorp Cannon
Coach:Dumisani Mhani
Captain:Garrick Mattheus
Sport:Rugby union
League:Currie Cup First Division
Season:2022
Position:Runners-up
2nd on log
Ground:Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Capacity:48,000
Url:www.eprugby.co.za
Pattern La1:_black_hoops
Pattern B1:_redhoops
Pattern Ra1:_black_hoops
Pattern So1:_ecv10h
Leftarm1:CD0000
Body1:000000
Rightarm1:CD0000
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:CD0000
Current:2018 Currie Cup First Division

The Eastern Province Elephants (known as the Multisure Eastern Province Elephants for sponsorship reasons) are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge competitions. They are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU or EP Rugby). The team represents the Western half of the Eastern Cape province, and they play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

In February 2018, the EPRU announced that the name of the team would revert to Eastern Province Elephants for the 2018 season.[1]

History

The Eastern Province Rugby Football Union was founded in 1888. The team was originally a representative team, drawing players from within the provincial union area's local clubs.

Professionalism and Super Rugby

However, with the advent of professionalism in rugby union in 1995, the team contracted players from various areas. The Eastern Province Elephants is a professional team run by the EPRU, who are also responsible for junior representative rugby teams and administrative matters in the region.

Prior to 2010, they were known as the Mighty Elephants, but in order to align themselves with the Super Rugby side the Southern Kings, who were also governed by the EPRU, they changed their name to Eastern Province Kings. After the 2010 World Cup, they moved their offices to the new Port Elizabeth Stadium to establish their new headquarters. The team is the primary feeder to the Southern Kings, which also incorporates the and the .[2]

Financial problems and liquidation

After late payments of player salaries throughout most of the 2015 season, it came to a head in November 2015, when the EPRU failed to meet a final deadline imposed by the South African Rugby Players Association. All players' contracts were declared null and void, leading to an exodus of players.[3] A few days later, the South African Rugby Union announced that they would take control of the affiliated Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise,[4] and released an operational plan in early December which indicated that SARU would operate the franchise independently from the Eastern Province Kings.[5]

After a petition handed to president Cheeky Watson, in which players announced their refusal to play for the Eastern Province Kings or Southern Kings until certain issues were sorted out,[6] was not met, the South African Rugby Players' Association submitted a liquidation application in January 2016 against EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd on behalf of eighteen Eastern Province Kings players who were not included in the Southern Kings Super Rugby squad for 2016 and have not received their salaries since September 2015.[7] The Port Elizabeth High Court provisionally liquidated Eastern Province Rugby in March 2016 and imposed a deadline of 10 May 2016 to pay outstanding player salaries, before the liquidation order would being made final.[8]

The Eastern Province Kings submitted details of a rescue package to the High Court in May 2016,[9] which saw the liquidation order being postponed until 4 August 2016. In July 2016, it emerged that the rescue package would not come to fruition and SARU withdrew their appeal against the final liquidation order.[10] On 4 August 2016, the High Court ruled that the Eastern Province Kings should be liquidated.[11]

Within hours of the liquidation being finalised, SARU released a statement that an Eastern Province Kings team funded by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality would continue to participate in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.[12]

Stadium

The team was originally based at St George's Park. This was also where the first South African Rugby and Cricket Tests took place. They shared the ground with the Eastern Province cricket team.

In 1959, the EPRU decided to move the team to the then named Boet Erasmus Stadium and the inauguration took place in 1960 with the test between the Springboks and Scotland on 30 April 1960. The stadium was later named Telkom Park, due to a naming rights deal, and then renamed to the current name, the EPRU Stadium. The team played most home matches at the stadium, with a few hosted at other venues in Port Elizabeth and surrounding towns. During the late 2000s, the team shared the stadium with football (soccer) club Bay United.

In 2009, the team played its first match at their current home, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Honours

Results by season

The table below indicates the Elephants' recent finishes. This includes games played as Eastern Province, Eastern Province Kings and Mighty Elephants.

Currie Cup
SeasonPool/groupNo. of teamsPositionPlay-off result
align=left Currie Cup Division A 7 6th
align=left Currie Cup Division A 8 8th
align=left Currie Cup Division A 8 5th
1991 align=left Currie Cup 6 6th
1992 align=left Currie Cup 6 6th
1993 align=left Currie Cup 6 3rd
1994 align=left Currie Cup 6 6th
1995 align=left Currie Cup 6 5th
1996 align=left Currie Cup Section A 7 5th
1997 align=left Currie Cup 14 14th
1998 align=left Currie Cup 14 9th
1999 align=left Currie Cup 14 7th
2000 align=left Currie Cup Section X 7 5th
align=left Bankfin Cup1 6 1st align=left Losing Finalists
2001 align=left Currie Cup Section X 7 7th
align=left Bankfin Cup1 6 3rd
2002 align=left Currie Cup Section Y 7 7th
align=left Bankfin Cup1 6 3rd
2003 align=left Currie Cup Qualifying 8 6th
align=left First Division 6 3rd
align=left First Division 6 5th
align=left Premier Division Section X 7 5th
align=left First Division Section X2 3 2nd align=left Losing Semi-Finalists
align=left First Division 6 4th align=left Losing Finalists
align=left First Division 6 2nd align=left Losing Finalists
align=left First Division 6 6th
align=left First Division 6 4th align=left Losing Semi-Finalists
align=left First Division 6 2nd align=left Champions
align=left promotion/relegation 2 2nd align=left Failed to win promotion
align=left First Division 6 2nd align=left Losing Finalists
align=left First Division 8 1st align=left Champions
align=left promotion/relegation 2 2nd align=left Failed to win promotion
align=left First Division 8 2nd align=left Losing Finalists, Promoted
align=left Premier Division 8 8th
align=left Premier Division 8 7th
1 Between 2000 and 2002, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Top 8 tournament, the bottom 3 in each section for the Bankfin Cup.
2 In 2005, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Premier Division, the bottom 3 in each section for the First Division.
Vodacom Cup
SeasonPool/groupNo. of teamsPositionPlay-off result
align=left Vodacom Cup Section A 7 4th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 7 4th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 7 3rd align=left Losing Quarter Finalists
align=left Vodacom Cup Section X 8 5th
align=left Vodacom Shield1 6 2nd align=left Losing Finalists
align=left Vodacom Cup Section X 7 6th
align=left Vodacom Shield1 6 3rd align=left Champions
align=left Vodacom Shield 7 4th align=left Losing Semi-Finalists
align=left Vodacom Shield 7 6th
align=left Vodacom Cup Section X 7 7th
align=left Vodacom Cup 14 12th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 7 4th align=left Losing Quarter Finalists
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 7 6th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 7 7th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 8 6th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 8 5th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 8 3rd align=left Losing Quarter Finalists
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 8 3rd align=left Losing Semi-Finalists
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 8 5th
align=left Vodacom Cup Southern Section 8 5th
1 Between 2001 and 2002, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Vodacom Top 8 tournament, the bottom 3 in each section for the Vodacom Shield.

Current squad

The following players were included in the Eastern Province Elephants squad for the 2022 Currie Cup First Division:[13]

Eastern Province Elephants Currie Cup squad
Props
  • Duncan Du Buisson
  • Cebo Gidane
  • Luxolo Koza
  • Sibusiso Lali
  • Rob Lyons
  • Sive Mazosiwe
  • Siya Nzuzo
  • Roche van Zyl
  • Vian Wolmarans

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards
  • Zingisa April
  • Billy Dutton
  • Laken Gray
  • Gerrit Huisamen
  • Athenkosi Manentsa
  • Tiaan Vermaak
  • Diego Williams

Scrum-halves

  • Chucky Ismail
  • Rouche Nel
  • Sacha Toring

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

  • Riaan Arends
  • Rodney Damons
  • Dayle Nel
  • Qeutyne Oerson

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain and Bold denotes internationally capped.

Team officials

align=center colspan=2 Coaches
Head coach
Sivuyile Kobokana Forwards coach
Garrin August Backs coach
Thando Manana Team manager

Records

Eastern Province Elephants records:[14]

Team match records
RecordOppositionVenueSeason
Biggest win 2001 110–17
Biggest Currie Cup win 63–7
Heaviest defeat 1998 12–80
Heaviest Currie Cup defeat 1984 3–65
Highest score 2001 110
Most points conceded 1998 80
Most tries 2001 16
Most Currie Cup tries 11
Player match records
RecordPlayerOppositionVenueSeason
Most points by a player 38
Most Currie Cup points by a player 1996 29
Most tries by a player Rustenburg1991 5
5
5
Team season records
RecordMatchesSeason
Most team points in 27 matches 2012 875
Most Currie Cup team points in 27 matches 611
Most team tries in 24 matches 2003 103
in 27 matches 2012 103
Most Currie Cup team tries in 18 matches 2012 76
Player season records
RecordPlayerSeason
Most points by a player 1996 282
Most Currie Cup points by a player 2002 153
Most tries by a player 1994 14
1998 14
2003 14
Most Currie Cup tries by a player 1998 13
13
Player career records
RecordPlayerSeasons
Most appearances 1993–2002 173
Most points 1981–1988 1,126
Most Currie Cup points 1981–1988 755
Most tries 2006–2013 56

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: EP’s rugby jumbo resurrected . Herald Live . 2 February 2018 . 1 March 2018.
  2. Web site: Name change for EP Rugby. 2010-07-14. Sport24. 2010-07-14.
  3. Web site: Kings facing player exodus? . Rugby365 . 11 November 2015 . 11 November 2015.
  4. SARU steps in to assist the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise . South African Rugby Union . 17 November 2015 . 17 November 2015 . 18 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151118101324/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24397?view=news&leagueId=2714 . dead .
  5. SA Rugby unveils Southern Kings management team and operational plan . South African Rugby Union . 4 December 2015 . 4 December 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208121026/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24478?view=news&leagueId=2714 . 8 December 2015 . dmy .
  6. Web site: EP Kings players hand over petition to Watson . Rugby15 . 7 December 2015 . 7 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160119082841/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2015/12/ep-kings-players-hand-over-petition-to-watson/ . 19 January 2016 . live .
  7. Web site: Southern Kings unaffected by liquidation application against EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd . South African Rugby Union . 28 January 2016 . 29 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203081738/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24620?view=news . 3 February 2016 . dmy .
  8. News: EP Rugby provisionally liquidated . Herald Live . 10 March 2016 . 10 March 2016.
  9. Web site: UK firm revealed as Kings’ saviour . Herald Live . 25 May 2016 . 4 August 2016.
  10. Web site: EP Kings business rescue hits a snag . Herald Live . 26 July 2016 . 4 August 2016.
  11. News: It’s official: EP Kings liquidated . SA Rugby Magazine . 4 August 2016 . 4 August 2016.
  12. EP Kings confirmed in Currie Cup Premier Division with Municipal support . South African Rugby Union . 4 August 2016 . 4 August 2016.
  13. Web site: Eastern Province Elephants squad . SA Rugby . 29 March 2022.
  14. Book: SA Rugby Annual 2014 . South African Rugby Union . 2014 . 251 . 978-0-620-57859-2.