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| Full name | North West Leopards | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Leopards Rugby Union | |
| Emblem | Leopard | |
| Founded | 1920 | |
| Region | North West Province | |
| Ground(s) | Olën Park,Potchefstroom (Capacity: 22,000) | |
| League | Currie Cup First Division | |
| 2025 | Semi-finalist 4th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
 Current season | ||
TheLeopards (Afrikaans:Luiperds) is a South African professionalrugby union team that participates in the First Division of theCurrie Cup, as well as theSA Cup. They are based in theNorth West Province. Their home ground isOlën Park inPotchefstroom. The union was formed in 1920 and was originally called Western Transvaal.[1]
The Western Transvaal Rugby Union had its origin in the Transvaal Rugby Union in 1920, when it became the tenth member of senior rugby unions forming the South African rugby landscape.[2] For most of their history they've played in the second tier of the Currie Cup, but they were promoted to the Premier Division for the2009 season after defeating theFalcons in a promotion-relegation playoff in October 2008. They remained in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup until the end of2011 season after beating theSWD Eagles from the Southern Cape in the promotion/relegation matches at the end of 2009 and 2010. However, theSouth African Rugby Union (SARU) reduced the number of teams in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup from the2012, and the Leopards moved down to the First Division.
They became the first black-owned rugby team in South Africa after securing sponsorship fromRoyal Bafokeng Sports Holdings in October 2007.[3]
The Leopards are based primarily in the university town ofPotchefstroom, but have played some home games at the much larger Royal Bafokeng Stadium inRustenburg as well as at other rugby clubs around the province. They draw their fans from across theNorth West Province and used to average crowds of 5,000 to home Currie Cup fixtures.
