Griffons (rugby union) explained

Teamname:Griffons
Fullname:Griffons
Union:Griffons Rugby Union
Region:Part of the Free State Province, South Africa
Countryflag:South Africa
Emblem:Griffon
Colours:Purple, Gold & White
Founded:1968
Coach:Jacques Juries
Captain:Duann Pretoruis
Sport:Rugby union
League:Currie Cup Premier Division
Season:2022
Position:Champions
1st on log
(Promoted to Premier Division)
Capacity:17,000
Url:http://griffonsnfs.co.za/
Pattern B1:_goldcollar
Pattern Sh1:_yellow stripes
Pattern So1:_3_stripes_yellow
Leftarm1:330066
Body1:330066
Rightarm1:330066
Shorts1:ffffff
Socks1:330066
Current:2018 Currie Cup First Division

The Northern Free State Griffons (currently known as the Novavit Griffons for sponsorship reasons) are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and SA 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 Cheetahs Super Rugby team, along with players from the and .

The team currently plays in the First Division of the Currie Cup, attracting crowds of around 4,000 to home games in at North West Stadium in Welkom. Their traditional rivals are the Free State Cheetahs and North West Province Leopards.

History

The Griffons rugby union was formed in 1968 when the late Dr Danie Craven, the president of SA rugby, had a vision to spread the game to rural areas in South Africa. The Griffons were one of four new provincial teams formed, originally known as Northern Free State (or Noord Vrystaat in Afrikaans).[1]

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.

Honours

The team's major tournament wins include:

Current squad

The following players have been included in the Griffons squad for the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division:[3]

Griffons Currie Cup squad
Props
  • Doctor Booysen
  • Stephan de Jager
  • Xolani Jacobs
  • Neo Mohapi
  • Hillary Mwanjilwa
  • Buhle Nojekwa

Hookers

Locks

  • Michael Benadie
  • Mitchell Carstens
  • Lungi Mbiko
  • Wikus Nieuwenhuis
  • Rian Olivier
  • Thomas Ongera
  • Dean-Jay Sheen
  • Curtley Thomas
  • Jaco Willemse
Loose forwards
  • Thato Mavundla
  • Jean-Jacques Pretorius
  • Ludio Williams
  • Soso Xakalashe

Scrum-halves

  • Richman Gora
  • Jaywinn Juries
  • Ethan Williams

Fly-halves

  • Jandré de Beer
  • Carl-Evert Pienaar
  • Duan Pretoruis (c)
Centres

Wingers

  • Donovan Don
  • Randall Fielies
  • Duren Hoffman
  • Granwill Matthys
  • Jamba Ulengo

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welcome to the Griffons Rugby Union. griffons-rugby.co.za. 2012-01-19.
  2. Web site: 2022-06-24 . Griffons thrash Eastern Province to win Currie Cup First Division title . 2022-06-25 . The South African . en-ZA.
  3. Web site: Currie Cup Team . 13 March 2023 . Griffons.