Pumas (Currie Cup)

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use South African English Template:Short descriptionTemplate:Template other The Pumas (Template:Langx) are a South African professional rugby union team that competes in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup. The team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province (formerly known as the South Eastern Transvaal) and plays at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela, having previously also played at the Puma Stadium in Witbank.

The Pumas are a well supported team throughout Mpumalanga Province, with large fan bases located in Witbank, Middelburg, Ermelo and Mbombela.

History

Formed in 1969 as South Eastern Transvaal, the Pumas are one of the younger unions in the country. The team won the Currie Cup for the first time in 2022.

In 2006, they were coached jointly by Chris Grobler and Danie Gerber, but failed to win any of their 14 matches, finishing last on the log.

They won the Currie Cup First Division (the second tier competition) in 2005 and 2009, both times earning promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division.

For their 2010 Currie Cup campaign, the Pumas appointed the seasoned Jimmy Stonehouse as coach. Though considered the underdogs of the Currie Cup competition, on 27 August 2010 the Pumas beat current champions the Template:Rut 22–21 at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela. They eventually finished 7th.

Super Rugby

In 2020, the Pumas were invited to play in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition. A list of players who represented the side in the competition can be found here.

Honours

Major Honours

• Currie Cup Premier Division
  • Champions (1) 2022
  • Runner-up: (1) 2023
• Currie Cup First Division
  • Champions: (3) 2005, 2009, 2013
  • Runner-up: (1) 2012
• SA Cup:
  • Champions: (1) 2025
  • Runner-up: (1) 2024
• Vodacom Cup
  • Champions: (1) 2015
  • Runner-up: (1) 2013
• SuperSport Rugby Challenge
  • Champions: (1) 2018
  • Runner-up: (1) 2019

Minor Honours

• Airlink Cup 2023
• Toyota Challenge: runner up 2024

Current squad

The following players were included in the Pumas squad for the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division:

Pumas Currie Cup squad
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(c) Denotes team captain and Bold denotes internationally capped. Template:Notelist

External links

• Official website
• Pumas statistics on supersport.com