Golden Lions Rugby Union
 |
|
| Full name | Golden Lions |
|---|---|
| Union | Golden Lions Rugby Union |
| Emblem(s) | Lion |
| Region | Gauteng, South Africa |
| Ground(s) | Ellis Park Stadium (Capacity: 62,567) |
| Chairman | Kevin de Klerk |
| Coach(es) | Johan Ackermann (Currie Cup) Bafana Nhleko (Currie Cup qualification) |
| Captain(s) |
Ross Cronjé, Howard Mnisi and Kwagga Smith |
| League(s) | Currie Cup Premier Division |
| 2016 | 4th on log |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
 Current season
|
|
The Golden Lions (currently known as the Xerox Golden Lions for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa who compete in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup. The team is governed by the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU), and was originally known as Transvaal (after Transvaal Province), before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. The GLRU also operate a side in the Super Rugby competition, the Lions, who also draw players from Pumas and Leopards.
The Transvaal Rugby Union, with its headquarters in Johannesburg, was formed in 1889 after delegates from different clubs in the region decided to form a united rugby union to look after the well-being of the clubs. Prominent clubs involved in the process were Pirates, Wanderers, Pretoria, Potchefstroom and Kaffrarians. The first elected president was Bill Taylor (Born 1858). Transvaal’s first match was against Griquas in Kimberley on 31 August 1889.
The original colours used by Transvaal were dark blue and white jerseys, blue shorts and blue-and-white socks. It is unsure when the union decided to switch over to a white jersey with a red hoop with black shorts and socks. There is also a school of thought that the union adopted the famous Kilmarnock strip of white top with red hoop as a Kilmarnock member, Alex Frew, captained them when they beat The British Isles touring team in 1903. These colours are still in use today. It is also from these colours that the teams’ nickname, "Rooibontes" came from.
The original union encompassed a much bigger catchment area than it does currently. Unions that gained independence from Transvaal are Western Transvaal (currently the Leopards) in 1920, Northern Transvaal (currently the Blue Bulls) in 1938) and Eastern Transvaal (currently the Pumas) in 1948. Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, after which the stadium in Pretoria is named, was a lifetime member of the Transvaal Rugby Football Union. According to a Lions tale – 120 years of the red and white, Versfeld died of a heart attack at Ellis Park in 1932 when he attended a match between Transvaal and the Free State.
...
Wikipedia